Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-02
A G. lou u IN U 1& Is o
FROM THE RIcHioSD WHO.
TIE YANKEES IN FAIRFAX.
ny "A viR OMAN.

"Sloth like rust, faster than labor wears
and the used key is always ght."FnANKLIN.
The town Of Providence, usually called
Fairfax Court House, occupies pleasant anc
healthy location and within few years pas
has increased in population, aud materially
improved in appearance
number Of commodious and tasteful
dwellings, and two neat edifces for public
worship, have lately been erected. 1t is said
there has been corresponding improvement
IN the morals aud habits of the people.
In the vicinity of the Court House, The price
of improved land has doubled within four or
five years, and a striking change is already
percepiib!e.in many of the Farms.
TT disappointment is not confined to the
newcomers, but their example has stimulated
some OF the old residents who are making
strenuous and well-direcied efforts 10 renovate
their lands.
We visited three farms in the neighborhood
of the Court House, occupied by Northern
Families. The soil here differs from that OF
The secondary formation, described i'm my last
number 1t is not so uniform i'm its character,
consisting, in some places, of reddish clay,
aud IN others of paler clay mixed with sand
or gravel. The rocks upon the surface are
serpentlne and micaceous slate, with OCCASION
al appearance of gness and quartz
The present occupants have not yet had
time to make full trial of their mode of cul-
tIvation, and deficiency of capital has some
what retarded their Improvements.
On one of these farms we were shewn a
small field which had been in clover last year,
and has produced this season 90 bushels of
wheat to the acre, without any manure.
These families appear to be encouraged, and
satisfied with their change of residence. They
found the land mostly covered with pines,
which had grown up after its cultivation had
been abandoned by its former owners.
These pines they cut down and burn upon
the ground, which is found TO supply an ex.
cellent top-dressing, and prepares the soil for
good crop of wheat and clover, which is
much improved by the use of plaster. Where
ashes or lime can be obtained they are found
to be highly beneficial, but where clover will
grow and plaster will act upon il, these alone
will ferilize the soil. IL is said there are but
two kinds of land on which gypsum is inef-
flcIent. One of these is found near the sea-
shore, which is impregnated with salt, or act
ed upon by the salt air of the ocean the
other is soil that has been overlooked by
sprng-waer holding gypsum or lime in So
luton. The mode in which gypsum or plas-
ter operates, IN promoting the growth cf plants,
has been subject of controversy among
Chemists. II is stated in "Smith's Productive
Farming" that the ashes of clover have been
found TO contain gypsum in quantity, proving
that lime in the form of sui plate is neces-
sary ingredient in the constitution of some
vegetables. Hence the great utility of SOWING
plaster upon clover, which, by its long tap
roois,penetrates deeply into the soil and leaves
mass oil vegetable matter, that promotes the
growth of succeeding crops of grain.
Another view Of the effect of plaster is
given by Leibig in his Organic Chemistry.
lie says ''the evident influence of gypsum
upon the growth of grasses, the striking fer
Utility and luxuriance of a meadow upon
which it is slrewed, depends only upon lis
liking In the soil the ammonia of the atmos-
phere, which would otherwise be volatilized
with the water which evapora,es. The car
Donate of ammonia contained i'm rain water
is deromposed by gypsum in precisely the
same manner as IN the manufacture of sal
ammoniac. Soluble sui phate of ammonia and
carbonate of lime are formed. and this salt of
ammonia possessing no volatility, is conse-
quently retained in the soil. All the gypsum
gradually disappears; but its action upon the
carbonate of ammonia continues as long as a
trace of it exists. Again, he says .sIf we s,rew
the floors Of our stables from time to time
with common gypsum they will lose all their
offensive smell; and none of the ammonia
which forms can be lost, but will be retained
in condition ''serviceable as a manure.''
There car be no doubt that ann onia is one
oil the most important requisites Of negotiations;
Tor the two elements of which it is compos-
ed nitrogen and hydrogen) enter into the
composition of all the cereal grains which
supply food for man. 1t is the large propor-
ton OF ammonia contained in Guano which
renders this recently imported manure SO
wonderfully efIicacious.
Many intelligent farmers are of opinion
that plaster will not operate TO much advan-
tage upon soil that is too poor to produce
clover, and that it is necessary first to improve
the land by some other means sufficiently to
start vegetation, and then the process NAV be
carried forward by the use of plaster.
If this be so; and stable manure cannot be
had, (which is mostly the case on poor land,)
1T will be necessary to resort to gnano, bone
dust, ashes or lime. have already adveried
to the cause of the lertilizing effects of guano,
but Tear lis cost will prevent its coming in
TO general use. Bone-dust could readily be
obtained 1t proper attention were paid TO its
collection and manufacture in all our towns
and villages. It's ferlilizing property is owing
mainly TO the phosphate of lime and mag
nesa OF which it is chiefly composed. and
which enter into the composition Of grass and
grain:
it is stated by Leibig that "to manure an
acre OF land with 40 lbs. of bone-dust is suf-
ficlent to supply three crops of wheat, clover,
Turn @ ....al l.