Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-03-06
AgTiewltwrale
From he Boston cnlrlrasor.

mate rial item is pronRn citation; 10 law ca
ses, evidence; in agriculture, why may il
not be affirmed, that manure is an artlcle,
which, in importance exceeds all others.
The Alpha and Omega OF the whole art!
Your instructive paper gives attestalon
10 the Justice OF this sentiment, by the CO.
piousness oil the matter II contains on the
subject. And The tanners enquiries new
er should fsl,er upon theme SO vitality
connected with his prosperity. Let no
one then become inpatient, at meeting
the few remarks, which ! beg leave to
lay before your readers as an appendix to
much already in print, and greater merit
than | can clelm.
The subject divides itself into two main
branches, the first regarding the means of
oblsinlng the article. and the second the
application OF il. The former is oftener
brought under consideration than the lat
ter; not, as | imagine, with design that
either should be robbed Of due propor-
ton of argument and elucidation TO place
II on is own proper basis; for il cannot
escape any person Of thought, 10 how lit.
tie purpose skill and labor are lavished on
ingenious methods OF accumulation, if
what has been obtained is lost through
the want of care or skill in the use OF il.
Ny object is, TO exhibit few thoughts
which am desirous Of expressing, the
more for our having been given TO under
stand, that the farming community are
becoming convinced OF the superior adj
vautages of top dressing over other modes
of manuring. Any system of cultivation
found 10 be the best, after being sufficient.
ly tested by practice, should not hesi-
tate TO adopt. But having embraced q
theory, to appearances to the highest de-
gree rational, would not hastily abandon
It. though some few facts. seemingly hos.
tile TO It should be alleged.
Experimental farming, to bring out linz
portant and fair results, and TO establish
great principles, must not be slightly con-
Quoted nor expected TO accomplish any
thing by short ard summary methods.
Ii that be true which we have heard ssio
that any thing may be proved oy the BIZ
Bile; ii is not less evident, that almost any
thing may be proved by experiments in
farming. Bot not 10 enlarge, would say,
that top dressings are not to be repudlated
in the gross; for cases and circumstances
may point out This as the best mode OF re-
cruiting the soil. There are lands well
adapted to grass crops. which forbid the
use OF the plough. These must be kept
in heart by spreading The manure on the
surface, and this think is best done late
in autumn, 10 take the benefit ofthe SHOWS
and storms of winter, and avoid the inju-
rious influences upon II OF more perti-
cal sun.
For years, our agriculture. publications
have been teeming with arguments and
prrsuasions to the practice Of economy in
carefully shelteriug our manure from the
weather, until the soil is ready 10 receive
it. The reason Of this is, that being ex.
posed 10 the constant action Of the atmos-
phere, it undergoes decomposition, and
lost to the owner by taking an invisible
and aerial figh. to regions unknown.-
And lf there be good management in pro-
tecting MANURE heaps from the powers OF
the external world, until they can be de-
posted where they have chance 10 do
their proper work in the vegetable king
dom, can il be prudent, when las convey.
ed 10 the place ofits destination, to par
ade II in the open face Of heaven, and ex-
pose il. IN thin array, TO the fiery darts OF
a bazng sun, alternating rams and sweep
ing winds, dispensing its virtues 70 the
ends OF the earthl 1.-THE barn cellar be
the best receptacle, by defending il agsinw
decomposing influences, until IT'S decom-
position IS required at the roots Of the
grain to be fed by il; why :hen should
moi the earth next take it ADD preserve i
in her bosom from beng assaulted and
driven from its station.
All tisge lands, that are to be benefit.
ed by manure, should receive II not SUI
perfcalIy, but under the sod, where there
will be gradual development. do not
suppose that msnures, left TO decompose on
the surface, are berelt ofdH their riches.
Some nutrition may penetrate to the root
in waiting Tor 1t. Blu, still, much is TN.
quesiionably lost, that would hive been
saved, had II been mingled with the soil
by the plough and harrow.
IL 10 spread manure on the suface, end
leave It there TO undergo the necessary
process of dissolution and decompos ton.
be the hes, mode Of gettpg from il the
blessing il contains, why do we talk Of
ploughI0g IN green crops 10 restore the
firtiiity of an exhausted soil? Is il not
from the known fact, tina. so little vegeia-
BILE matter, which pershes onthe surface,
ever gets under II to rise up anew in thrift
ty plants TO give Substance 10 animal ma.
ture? And why is It sol Why is il not
better that the food which The husbandman
serves out 10 his needy aud hungry crop,
should DO where il wall gradually settle
down and present itself to the sprmgiDg
gain Just beneath the outward covering
of the soil, in which the seed has been
lodged, than to give il opportunity by
deep insertion, to get out Of reach in It's
descent into the subsoil? To this my an
swer is, that the quintessence of manure
always has its course upward, never
downward; and therefore cannot be lost
by descending below the depth whefeit
is left, under ground TO develop ITSELF
Thara ga he M arror Then in hilryiup ma