Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-02-20
From the N. T.. Farmer.
Necessity OF Supplying the Soil with the Con-
Sli!ncnts OF the Crops Crown on IT,

i,re, must be hailed by all thinking far
mers with joy. AT present, 'h's light IS
restricted in its radiance, hut a few, com
paraiively, out of the ranks ol the learn-
ed, feeling its beneficial influence. Bat
the time seems Ia be approaching - let
M bid II speed when IN the culture of
the earth, science will guide practice,
and good farming the most probable
farming-become an at which will re-
Quire The skllful exercise oT Intelligent
MIND, more than The exercise Of physical
power, TO pursue ii with the greatest sue
cess.
Chemistry patron genius OF ag-
riHIlture 10 now lending us aid as IL
never before lent il, tD dlspel the dark
ness which has too long enyrlopcd the
farmer in his pursuit, and teaching him
10 see, aad enabling him to comprehend,
the true processes by which his crops
and animals are formed, and the necrs-
sary conditions required to make the one
heavy aud The other lat, at the least ex-
pense aud with the most profit. THIS
des,rable light is being constantly d'iiu-
sed by scientific men, particularly ~
England and Scotland, in lectures aud
commune aiions through the press, and
thousands seek II as. eagerly a. they do
their own prosperity, and, InGred, their
prosperity depends, in an importan, de-
gree upon II.
To no ono, We think, aro the farmers
on either side o, the Atlantic, more deep
ly indeb bted for efforts TO benefit them by
imparting valuable scientific knowledge,
than 10 Prof. Johnston, Of Scotland. The
following abridged report Of one of his
late lectures before the Dmnjries Far
n.er's Club, on the necessity Of returning
TO the soil lhe constituents Of the crops
taken off, think will interest many Of
your readers: >"
"The different substances Of which
plants are composed, must exist in the
soil on which they grow according 10
the nature Of the plant TO be reared, So
ought the land To be manured. Thus,
while wheat grain contained only tvs"
per cent Of ashes, hay contained 10 per
cent. Hence the wheat requlied much
larger amount of combustible aimen,
than hay. Ii was true that the whole oi
directly from the soil, as large portion
was derived from the air bat from five
Ia ten per cent Of the straw of wheat was
obtained from the soil hence the pro-
vision made in some leases, that no straw
should be carried Off the land. Differ
ent kinds Of hay cary of different Q0an.
titles Of inorganic matter from Tho soil,
and consequently have different effects
upon the land.
Every plant that grows, requires, in
accordance with the nature and compo.
slon Of soil, the proportion OF The ingre-
dienls in its ashes. IL no alteration OF
crop is made, nature will become rxhaus-
ted 10 Some oG her resources, and the
p'aoi, for want oi requisite nosri,hmeDt
from the soil, must die. We have facts
Ia prove that nature will no, forever grow
the same plant on the same soil The
Black Forest consisted first of oak, then
Of pine, and now It is again covered with
broad leavcd trees aud as with trees,
50 with crops and as OH large, so on
a small scale.
Different modes Of husbandry have
been adopted Ins,ead Of oats being
grown 10 or 20 years on the same soil,
the rotation Of three white crops aud six
years grass was adopted .: this also, has
becone nnl,quat,d, aud now the prefer.
nbie alienation oI white and green crop
Is adopted. Alternating crops, and add
ing such manures as have been carried
"H by preceding crops, is the only prof
table mode of cultivation, while nature
viii also assist by the going on of certain
circumstances, such rs the dccompos-
inn Of minerals, sc.
\ soil containing nst sufficient lime
lor a Inxurlant crop OF rye. grass, wonld
be Tar deficient for either clover or IN.
cerue The SOL must contain IN abun-
dance what your crop specially requires,
aud cnnst quenily the necessity OF select
ing the manure to suit the crop wanted.
The ground becomes exhausted in
many ways BY cropping too long with
either one kind or different kinds Of grain
and carrying off both grain and straw, It
becomes exhausted OF some Of It's solu.
bic matter by the action Of rains, lust in
proportion 10 the welnc 81 oi the soil. BY
tho application Of proper manurcs, the
HuSlc may ne TPVIdCtb, EctbllS vi iH'
ground will repla"e portion Of the waste
OF solid matter, by the dung voded by
the animals but Il great portion OF the
soluble is lost, both by being, TO small
extent, mrecovernblc, and because OF,
the direct waste by care!esSness or igno.
rance. These soluble or saline substan-
Gee, are principally combined in the ur-
Inc oi cattle, and jus, in proportion as II
Is lost, so is the direct waste. Cuano Is.
not more valuable manure than the ur-
inc oi cattle. BY building suitable tanks,
the whole Of the barn-yard saline might
be preserved, and 900 lbs. Of good solid
matter, equal to the best Peruvian guam
q, would be the annual produce Of one
COW. We have frequently been aston
INhcd at the results OF certain saline sub
stances when scattered over unhealthy
plants, and by the first shower washed
Iulo The soil and Immediately consumed
10y the plan, n Iis proper and necessary
f'"d aud just in proportion to the ease
With winch II gets the substances upon
l. A. Il. Il =. -