Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-17

ln"P'i'""t usCoNeIles, every geoioglst be-
heves and that this may be expected, every
one who will examine the results of similar
surveys, in the twenty States which have
made them, must be satisfied OF these
results single instance may suffice.
Michigan employs a State geologist.
Among the first consequences of his en-
ployment was the discovery of bed of gyp-
sum OF immense value; following hard up4
on this was that of salt spring, which
yields more than enough to supply the
whole State, at one sixth or one eighth of
the former expense. These discoveries A.
lone would an hundred fold repay the ex
pense Of the whole survey
2. In continuation, Your committee
would ask attention to the second reason in
favor Of this survey, viz: That it will tend
TO full Development of the laws of arri-
culture, and of the chemical and acricuItu-
raj nature of our soils.
The soil, like all other substances. is
composed of certain elementary principles.
generally determined by the rocks upon
which II rests. These elementary prin-
ciples are almost always found in combi-
nation with each other These combi-
nations are almost infinite, and are capa-
BILE of almost an infinite variety ofresolution
and of RECONCILIATION. In short the soil
itself is vast laboratory into which the
sklliul may enter, and appropriate to him
self agents, powerful to subserve his pur-
pose. The plant growing from the soil is
composed of similar elements, and it is the
sole object of agriculture to transfer these
elements of the soil into the body of the
growing plant. 1t is to this process to
which the farmer should turn his attention,
and it is with his hands loaded with the
knowledge necessary to the perfection of
this process, that agricultural geology ten
ders TO him its aid
This process might be an easy one, were
the elements of the soil in just such COM
binatIons as the plant requires. Such not
being the case, il is necessary that the
proper change should be effected. tbs is
done by mixing with the soil some substan-
ces which will decompose the old, and, if
necessary form new combination. This
way of producing the desired end has been
pursued from time immemorial, and the
foreign substances, thus used, have received
the name of manures.
IF the soil, the plant seizes upon that por-
tiC.l which il requires or the manure unites
with noxious element of the soil, forming
an inert or insoluble and harmless substance,
leaving vegetation TO flourish now, where
sterity reigned before. Take a familiar
example. A piece of land, upon which
there was originally a growth of pine or
hemlock, has got into a condition in which
il will yield nothing. A dressing of leach
ed ashes (potash) is applied, and luxuriant
crop Of clover is the result. How is this
result produced The ground, before dress
ing, will be found covered with variety Of
useless vegetables, among which will always
occur sorrel This contains large portion
of oxalic acid This is proof that the
soil itself contains too much acid. When
the potash is applied to this soil, the acid
unites with it and forms an inert compound,
thus destroying the influence of the noxlous
element If, on the contrary, the land con-
Itains too much alkali, acid, in some form,
J must be applied. Various salts furnish acid
and the solid and especially the liquid evac-
nations of animals contain it in large
quantities.
From the foregoing we may conclude,
that the manure does not necessarily fur
nsh single element to the plant, that its
true and legitimate object is to operate up
on the soil ITSELF and that it may be said
generally, that it has its operations under
: the same laws of chemical affinity which reg
uate all other combinations of matter.
We again say, it is the object of geo.
logical chemistry to point out the exac,
nature of soils, and the proper manures for
each kind of soil, with the notifications
necessary for the proposed crop. But geo.
logical agriculture goes even farther than
this. 1t proposes to discover and point
out the manures themselves, TO teach the
> best methods of their creation, by which
bones and gristle, peat and swamp muck,
! lime in all its varieties, salt and ashes, sub
/ stances entirely dissimilar, may be made
subservient TO the same great purpose, Tho
production of vegetable life. IL may be
that its teachings will be adverse to cher
: ished notions, and subversve of long es-
f, tablished opinions, but it is sufficient an
swer to the objection of innovation, that il
teaches nothing but truth, and this is the
antagonist OF error alone and that habits
and methods should cease when they are
, proved inefficient or erroneous, is admitted
by all.
Your committee, therefore, believing
! that agriculture will be most profitable
when it is best understood, and believing
= that geological survey offers vast a
, mount Of necessary knowledge upon its
laws and processes, beg leave to urge up
!, on the House the passage of the accom-
: panying bill.
]. Nc M. SKATER, for committee
al In the obscurity of the cottage. far from