Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-09-23
THE YANKEES IN FAIRFAX
~ A NlRGlstA>.


| -k"y In always bright "-Fs.sEtS.
The Town OF Providence usually called Fairfax Cour
House. occupied pleasant and healthy location and with
in few years past has increased in population, and
| terally improved in appearance.
| A number of commodious and tasteful dwellings, and
edhces for public worship, have lately been erect
cd. lis said there mas been corresponding improvement
| in the morals and habits Of the people
In the vicinity of the Court House. the OF improv
ed land has doubled within years. and sik-
ing change already pcrcepuble in many of the Farms.
| This improvement confined the corners.
bu, their example has stimulated some OF the old residents
who making and weldirec,ed efforts TO
noyate their lands
We visited three the neighbourhood OF the {.
| House. occupied BY Northern Families. The soil here
differs from Of the secondary formation described in
my last number II is uniform in its character con-
ssng places of rcddes clay and IN others OF
paer clay mixed with sand gravel The rocks upon the
sepentne and micsceoussa,e with occasional!
appearance OF gneiss and quartz.
The present occupants have not yet had time TO make
full al OF their mode Of cultivation and deficiency OF
capital has somewhat retarded their Improvements.
On one OF these farms she~n small field
which had been in clover yea and has produced
season 20 bushels of wheat the without
These families appear be encouraged and satisfied with
their change of residence. They found the land mostly
covered with pines, which had sitter It's cuva
ton had been abandoned by its former
These pines they down and burn upon the ground,
which found supply excellent opdressng, and pre-
pares the soil for good crop OF wheat ana clover which
improved by the Of plaster. Where ashes lime
can be obtained they found Re highly beneficial, but
where clover will grow and plaster will upon it, these
alone will ferrze the soil II is said there but
kinds of land which gypsum inefficient. One OF these
is found the shore, which mpregnaed with SALT
acted upon by the salt sir Of the the other
soil that has been csefowed by springwa,e holding eyp
sum or lime in solution. The mode which gypsum or
plaster operates in promoting the growth Of plants has
been subject OF controversy among Chemists. IL
ted IN Smi,hs Productive Farming" tina, the ashes OF
clover have been found contain gypsum in quantity
proving that lime in the form vi suphate is necessary
ingredient in the constitution OF vegetables Hence
the great utility of sowing plaster clover, which, by
w long iaProots Peneates deeply into the soil and leaves
OF vegetable matter. that promotes the growth Of
succeeding crops oi gran.
Another OF effect OF plaster IL given By Lebig
in his Organic Chemistry. lie Gays "ihe evident influence
gypsum upon the growth Of grasses the striking fertility
and luxuriance OF a meadow upon which it is .uewed
depends only upon ts fixing the soil the Ammonia Of the
atmosphere which would otherwise be voauxed with the
which evaporstes. The carbonate of ammonia
tanned decomposed by gypsum precisely
the same manner the manufacture OF saLammonac
Soluble sulphsIe OF ammonia and carbonate Of lime
formed and this salt OF possessing volatility
consequently retained in the soil All the gypsum gradual
y disappears; but It's action the carbonate OF
na long trace OF It e,ss." Again. he
SAYS eli the floors Of stables from time
time gypsum they will lose all their offensive
smell and of the ammonia which forms be lost
but will be retained in condition "seryiceable a ma
nure."
There can be no ioub; that one OF the most
importsnt requisites of vegetation for the elements
which II is composed nitrogen aud hydrogen enter into
the composition Of all cereal grains which supply food
IL the large proportion Of ammonia contained
in Guano which renders this recently mpoied manure so
wonderfully eflicacious.
Many ntellgen farmers OF opinion that plaster will
operate much advantage upon soil that poor
to produce clover and that necessary first improve
the land by other sufficiently vegea-
hon. and then the process may be carried forward by
use Of plaster.
Ii this be and stable manure cannot be had (Which
mostly the poor and will be necessary
sort to guano. bone.du-i, nshes lime. have already
adyeried the Of the ierzng effects of gunno
but will prevent its coming into general
Bone dust could readily be- obtained II proper attention were
paid collection and manufacture in all and
villages. Its fertling property owing mainly the
pho sphac OF lire and gnosia OF which chiefly com.
posed. and which into the composition OF grass and
grain.
II stated by Lsibg that ito manure OF land
with 80 lbs Of bone.dust sufficient supply three crops
Of wheat clover, potatoes tarnps, &c, with phosphates
In addition the phosphates Of lime and gnesin bones
contain 80 per Of dry geetne, which by the nitrogen
II affords, lads the process OF vegetable life"
The utility OF ashes a is readily undersi lod
by considering that potash enters into the composition
plants and Is especially important the growth Of the
stalks Of wheat aud Indian the outside enamel OF
which, Is composed Of Silica tor fni) which derived
from the SiIIcate of potash.
The application OF lime may he made ~ two
ways which depend upon prime pies altogether different
II be applied IN the form 81 carbonate las chalk or
mar,l it's highly useful to soils that deficient in lime
because a certain portion Of this earth essential to the
growth and health Of plants
Quickne when directly applied plants, j. injurious
but "beiug applied land tends to bring any hard
table contains, rapid and essy deeon.
position When It becomes mild by exposure It acts IN
the same wsy chalk but IN the Of becoming mild
prepares soluble from nsoube matter II is upon this
cumstance, that the operation Of lime in the preparation
for wheat crops depends end m efficacy IN eflzng peats
and bringing into Of cultivation oil soils aboundinv
IN hard roots. dry bres undecomposed, and therefore
useless vegetable mstiot."
Where none Of these ,nanHfes BE- hsd. poor soil
may bc improved by sowing with buck Indian
con ,sOwn broadcast ard turning IN tic green crop with
the plough. large proportion Of the food Of yogeta-
bes being carbon and ammonia derived from the
ybere and rom water, Is obyious that turning
green crop OF any kind adds to the soil Ingredients that il
did not before possess and Affords succeed
ing crops of grass or grain.
i,s mistake to suppose that the lands u R,iiaI have
been completely exhausted by CULTIVATION The surface
only hoe been Impoverished by hard cropping and shall
low pDuginp and oil that Necessary IN order ~ w
n virgin 90, put IN The plough to double the depth II
has hitherto gone
Such q method Of cultivation has prevailed here
would impoysrish almost any soil. To plough three
inches Deep and raise tobacco end corn and
every year without Swing gras. seeds allowing follow
10 enough 10 ruin the finest lsnds, and hos caused man,
thousands oi aces In Virgins. TO be thrown out
mons.
II seems IT, be Law II nature. that the land wH hss
her ClJJafhs and II not permitted rest from uagc,
will lJse IT, fertility. IN the Mppaic CODE IL require,
that they should abstain from agriculture every soVenl
year. and the doubess intended to prevent the so
from being worn oai by excessive cultivation, religious
sanction being given The law - prevent in nirocnpn
Moses ~ describing the cslamihes that would ensue h,m
disobcdcnco 10 he laws soys Thea shall Tho fnd orio
her ssbIas a. ioss 40 hsh dss,igfs, si1H rsi. be-