Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-10-01


nate. or sicats Of lime, form absolutely barren sois-
Bat srsisesous sarhs form always part Of fsrue soils
There therefore, be something these sarths winch
enables them favorable ndsencs on the lite
Of plants and assist their development The proper
~ which this depends 10 that Of their invariably con-
tanning potash and soda" AEscous luminous earths
produced by the dsnegaion Of various rocks that
common soil; among these granite. eness'
mica slate and elay-ac Felspar, which one OF the
constituents Of granite, gnes- and other rocks con-
tains IL per OF Potash and mica, which 10 another
very mineral contains only per cen, Of the same
slkel.
IL hes been she~n by modern chemists that the straw Of
wheat barley and OATS and the stalks Of Indian con-
tain potash Of which the wheat contains the largest
proportion The grain contains phosphorc acid which
another constituent OF soils but found in much smaller
quantities. Tobacco contains large proportion OF the
salts called phosphaes Now, evident that contin-
us OF any Of these crops will in time exhaust
the land by deprvng OF those salts and alke'es which
essential TO its fertility This effect may be counter
acted by the pasurage of sheep and CATTLE the CROWN OF
clover and other gsses aud by the OF gypsum ashes
and Indeed the land only be covered with
kind OF vegetation which, without exhsustine Its al
kees will protect the SUM- and prevent from wash
ing will regain what has los, by the natural pro-
cess Of the disinegraon Wondering Of the rocks
and gravel upon surface The growth OF pines ad-
miraby adapted for this purpose. and this hardy tree
will grow upon soils that capable o producing oaks
leaves OF the pine do contain more than one tenth As
much potash those OF the oak.
On cutting down aud burning fine forest all the slkaies
extracted from the soil Outing its growth are At once re-
stored. and a considerable quantity OF charcoal Is usually
scattered the surface. which assists vegetation by It's
remarkable property OF absorbing ammonia and earbonc
acid from atmosphere and from rain water, which
yields the OF growing plants and thus supplies some
of the essential elements OF vegetation.
We see then that the growth pines upon soils exhaust
by the cultivation grain tobacco, no, an aceden-
circumstance bu, arises from the operation OF those ma
which are admirably adapted sustain the We
eeabe and animal kingdoms There is indeed, 50 close
connection between these departments OF nature
tina; refrain from advertug to as subject well
worthy Of the investigation OF young and nquiring minds
How admirable is that arrangement by which the aimos
pierre when Initiated by the breathing OF animals Is reev
ed OF csrbonc acid, and supplied with pure oxygen by
leaves OF growing plants Each Of these made TO re-
spre which other rejects, and thus they mutually
sustain each other. Moreover the growth OF animals de-
ponds upon the supply OF vegetables and the growth OF We
geabes promoted by the remains OF animals There
nothing lost the works OF nature; and should dseov
that nothing made in vain, we only had the know
ledge the hidden tendencies OF natural laws
The study OF these laws forms OF the most delightful
empoyments ectng minds for while thus engaged we
hold converse with the Deity through the medium
OF his works. ascend, step by STEP the hill OF
Science obtain wider views OF croa.on and nob'er
conceptions OF that Almighty Being who c.eated and still
uphods the Universe. Why should not the study OF these
laws become prominent pare OF popular Eduea'oni My
may not Agriculture itself be taught Science and es-
t,bshtd upon fixed prncplesl Is not the most import
ant and the Gebi all the artsthe most essential to
human subsistence aud the most conducive 10 virtue anu
| happiness
Hitherto 1t has been dependant almost entirely upon e1-
perienco without the aid o.; scientific principles In tins
respect is IN that the OF dye
ing aud bleaching, the smelling Of metals, end the manu-
facture of porcelain. 50 ago. We know that
and other branches o manufacture have been greatly
advanced by Chemistry their productions have
been improved quality, and greatly reduced in price,
that We now fad in the dwellings OF the poor many ar
ces OF comfort .cnge1ienee which, in former ages
were confined the mansions OF "pIisnrs There is no
reason hy results should follow by the u
| plica,ion OF scene" the business Of Agriculture.
BY the analyses soils plants, and .iappres and by
dcious experiments carefully recorded and widely dssem
naed may reasonably calculate discovering the best
OF renoYaRg Exhausted On improving the growth
and quality Of crops and guarding against some OF the
casualties by which the farmers hopes iresusny
frustrated Within few years past, the attention OF Sci
ennfG men in Europe and America, has been turned
this branch Vi sdy some remarkable results have already
been obsped, and there grounds for believing that
| the influence electricity upon vegetation may be
controlled by produce h5 most beneficial and
! tonishing effects.
II is nltogeiher probable that by Of improved
system OF Agriculture based upon scientific principles, the
earth may be found capable Of sustaining far greater
number Of inhabitants than has hitherto imagined,
and that the iriehtu OF misery and crime which
generally attend dense population, may be averted for
thousands Of years daring WHICH lime the steady progress
| OF Christian principles may introduce smong mbnk.nd
higher aud bssu OF society which appears
to be shadowe forth tho guratve language of prophe.
cy when the fierce passions and gOyolng appeiites OF
shall yield obedience TO the Prince Of peace. So
that the wolf shall dwell with lamb, and the leopard
sha lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young
hoa and the faiings together, and little child shall lead
them" There appears TO be in many gifted minds look.
ing forward highly improved Of society, which
doubtless owing part the promises Of Scrpture,-bu
in addition this, there in the human se!f when
far advanced and knowledge consciousness tina,
man designed for higher of perfection than he
has yet attained For my part have doubt that the
human has always been IN state OF sson, and
thstit is advancing rapidly than any former
period 1t IS true, there many drawbacks is ad-
vancement and thousands Of Inconsistencies, that taken
separately might lead different conclusion. There is
STILL deal u and misery in the world, occasion.
eJ by seshnes and ambition but in what period
OF human history can we Ind 10 exemption from these
| evils
The superiority OF the presen. age does
much in the dminUon Of misery, in the increased e.
forts its progress which Shews Of
I've beneyolence hitherto unknown. Blu; mas been
evidently ameiorition in the CONDITION Of society as
compared with former ages, which be attributed to
the benign influence Of christianity Look at the con-
dion of the Of mankind pOaruayed in ancient
and modern history The serve dobasement Of ihe NY.
rads that led conquest by the Asyrsn monsrc
the gross idoay ond cenousncss Of the Greeks even
their best days. the aggressive n the Romans
who from irs to lssi nation Of robbers
person aud bigoy inst brooded Europe during the
middle ages aud the spirit Of conquest that IN almost every
age has devastated the farest portions the earth ORDER
10 crafty the cravings Of ambition minister the
Je?rsyed gpyeuies u man. Nevertheless there ad-
yaneemen; the Bs1p-tho great Of society be.
gin greater influence upon governments than
IN any former age. Education in Europe 0Bd in some