The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-20
From The Baltimore .qmeric
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.

The number of new works which have appeared
within few years, the application of chemlcl
knowledge and principles TO agriculture, Indicate 90
increasing interest in this most important suit The
writings of Leibig and of Professor Johnston recent
ly published, Of great value to the practical ar
cuturist 1t is stated in foreign paper, that NUN
Der Of farmers IN q Lothians Of Scotland lalrh
formed themselves into society for the Purpose %,
endeavorng 10 apply the discoveries Of modern Chez
mistry to the scefce of agriculture. For this pur.
pose, subscriptions were made to an amount wnlcN
enabled the society's committee to engage an agrlc
tural chemist and Professor Johnston has been EN-.
ployed accordingly, at salary OF $500 year So.
cured TO him for five years. The duties of the pro.
fessor will be TO analyze soils and also manure, IA
ascertain what element has been taken from the ,ol
by the previous crop, and the manure which ought
to be applied in the circumstances, and according Ia
the nature Of the plant TO be grown. From the dis
coveries of Lebg, and the experiments of Doctor
Johnson himself, much good is expected in Scotland
from the appointment Of an agricultural chemist and
the result of his labors on large scale.
From article ip Taits Magazine, which We auI
in Littell's very valuable Museum OF Foreign llerl
ture, we learn that a work, entitled Smith, Pro-
ductive Farming, has met with much favor among
the British agriculturists. Ii is not mucl au on
gnal work familiar digest OF the recent dl,cor.
ries OF Leiblg Dsvy, and other celebrated wrlc, gu
vegetable chemistry. The following extra. iua
MIR. Smiths work will be Of interest TO our NJ1.
land farmers and planters. IL relates to hr follow
ing system
{" The exhaustion Of alkalies in soil, by success.
sive crops is the trIe reason why practical l4,m.,
suppose themselves compelled To suffer land ..r
ialiow. Ii Is the greatest possible mistake toltms
that the temporary dlmiuution Of fertility In hrl
chirfiy owing 10 the loss Of the decaying vegetable
mailer IL previously contained; IL is principally ns
consequence OF The exhaustion Of the pota, ,nt no.
do, which are restored by the slow process, of Ole
more complete disinIegraiion of the materials ul.N,
soil IL Is evident that the careful ulling 81 il.oy
land must accelerate and increast this futI,r .r,.
ing up OF IFS mineral ingredients Nor Is lhi, rcg
OF The soil always necessary. field which hl, .s-
come UNITED for certain kind OF produce ma, u.i
on tiiat account, be unsuitable for another: and .n
THIS observation; and from this observation system
OF agriculture has been gradually formed the plu...
pal ooJec' oi winch Is 10 obtain the greatest pl, bic
produce IN succession Of years W Ia the least u..
Iay TOT manure Because plants require for ll.
grown dHerent constituents of soil ch nsIu1 ut
crop IRON year TO year will maintain the lcItliN O
that soil (proylced il be done with Judgment aus,
as wen as leaving IL at rest or fallow In ths We
Dut initiate nature. The oak, after thriving ior Iub-
generations on particular spot, gradually .cs.r.
us enllre race dies out other trees and shrub. sue.
ceed IL, tili at length the surface becomes 90 charged
Wih an excess OF dead vegetable matter tlll o..
forest becomes peat-mo-s, or q surface upon vIl..
no large Trees VIII grow. Generally long I,H.,
this can occur, the operation OF natural csr. no..
removed from the soil substances ,,,....
to The growth Of oak, leaving others fayorabl, sf ,,
cessary TO the growth OF beech and pine H
practical iarminP-one crop, in artificial rotation
with others, extracts from the soil a certain quantity
d inorganic matter a second carries off ~ lftI,..
'nce, those which the former had left aud u,Id
could nor would take up.