The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-11-03
CHARLOTTE. N. c. NOVEMBER. 3. ls43.

of September, and finish from the LIST 10 The
lOtA Of October.
The second subject TO which we would
call the attention Of the wheat. grower rs,
the use of charcoal.
In France, as we'll as in America, exam
pies are q, command TO show that the oPin-
lou prevails in the minds Of practical lar.
mers, 10 both countries, that the wheat crop
has been preserved from the i'll effects OF
the rust by the application OF fine charcoal
10 the soil, as top dressing the quantities
are not stated, but We should :hink that If
ty bushels 10 the acre would be sufficient
This is substance that every farmer may
provide at but little cost of labor and time.
As we have before promised, the conserva'
tive properties Of charcoal may arise from
its great powers of absorption, affinity Tor
ammonia, carbonic acid, and the retention
| Of those substances when absorbed, as also
TO the fact Of its possessing, in ITS constu-
uent properties, portion OF the slitcate oil
potash. The experiments Of agricultural
chemists teach US that charcoal will alb
sorb ninety times It's weigh, of ammonia,
and that it yields ii up slowly TO the yoliaic
action of the roots of plants, and the more
approved opinion is, that ammonia lotms
very material food Of plants. If these facts
be as stated, the exemption arising to the
wheat plant from the use Of charcoal may
laccrue 10 this way FIRST, by the supply Of
the s!llca,e Of potash, TO give strength and
The power Of resistance 10 the stem of the
plants; and, secondly, by lis yielding up
the nutritive food so slowly, as not 10 co.
danger their disruption through grossness
of habit or surcharge Of the sap vessels.
We ofiar these suggestions in the hope
that they may induce experiments TO be
made the approaching season, 10 test the
virtue of charcoal. II it possess the pro
perty ascribed TO ii, Of being preventive
against rust, il is desirable that the truth o.
its efficacy be established if it do not pos
sess it, it is equally important that that fact
be- also established, in order tina! de!usiou
may be put to rest. But as neither its eff
cacy or inelficacy can be established with
out series of well conducted experiments,
We sincerely trust that wheat-growers will
feel themselves called upon to make them
Thirdly. We would suggest that, in eve.
ry instance where wheat may be sowu, the
, ground undergo thorough preparation, and
that all should consider deep ploughing and
repeated borrowings essential operations.
Fourthly. We would advise that If the
land may not have been previously lined,
from five to ten bushels OF lime per acre
be sowu thereon, or an equal quantity oil
ashes. These quantities are email, but
will be found sufficient for the uses Of a
season. And wherever wheut may be
sown on clover.ley, we would SOW from
two TO four bushee of salt to the acre.
Fifth. We would by all means be partic.
ular in the selection of good seed, having
due regard 10 weight of grain, strength OF
straw, earliness Of maturity, and quality Of
flour.
Sixlhly. We would not have any wheat
sown without having it first thoroughly
washed IN wafer, and then soaked in brine
Of salt that would bear 40 egg or potato,
for twenty. four hours, which, when taken
out, should be drained and then dried in
lime. We are the more particular in in
sisting upon this mode Of preparing seed
wheat, because we have noticed many ac-
counts Of injury to the crop during the late
season from smut, disease perfectly with.
IN tho control of the wheat grower, end
which can never occur but from cuipablo
neglect, as The means we have pointed out
We do know, will prevent its occurrence.
Sevenihly. While we are upon the sub
ject, lei Us advise oil wheat growers TO give
TO their land a bountlful allowance of seed,
as should he fail to do this, the bare por
tons of his soil will call into beng some Of
those numerous weeds, the seeds Of which
are always at hand, 70 occupy spots left BY
The neglect Of tho husbandman. He thai:
wants clean field of wheat must fill that
field with wheat plants. II he does not
commit sudicen, quantity of seed to the
earth, nature will not supply them, but she
will supply crop of pes;llent weeds TO rob
his wheat plants Of their food, diminish his
crop, and thus punish him for neglect Of
duty.