Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-02


which is derived from the Silicate of potash
The application of lime as manure ma,
be made in two ways which depend upoi
principles altogether diflerent--Ifit be applied
IN the form of a carbonate Gas chalk or mari,
il is highly useful to soils tina, are deficient n
lime, because certain portion of earth is es-
senIiai To the growth aud health Of plants.
Quicklime, when directly applied to plants
is Injurious but .'being applied to land, tends
10 bring any hard vegetable matter it contains,
INTO more rapid and easy decomposition.
when itbecomes mild by exposure, it acts in
the same way as chalk, but in the act of be-
coming mild, it prepares soluble from insou-
BILE matter. 1t isupon this circumstance, that
the operation of lime in the preparation for
wheat crops depends, and its efficacy in fer
tiilzlng peats and bringing into state of cu-
tivatlon all soils Astounding in hard roots, dry
hores, or undecomposed, and therefore useless
vegetable matter.'
| Where none of these manures can be had.
poor soil may be improved by sowing it
win buckwheat or Indian corn, (sown broad
cas',) and turning in the green crop with the
Piough. large proportion of the food of
vegetables being carbon and ammonia, deriv-
ed from the atmosphere, and from rain water.
1t is obvious that turning in green crop of
| any KIND, adds TO the soil ingredients that it
did not before possess, and affords susenance
TO succeeding crops of grass or grain.
IL is a mistake TO suppose that the lands of
Fairfax have been completely exhausted by
cultivation The surface only has been i'm
Poverishec by hard cropping, and shallow
ploughing; and all that is necessary in order
TO turn up virgin SOIL is to put in the plough
10 double the depth it has hitherto gone.
Such method of cultivation as has prevail
ed here, would impoverish almost anv soil
10 plough three or four inches deep, and
raise tobacco and corn, or corn and oats every
year, whhou, sowing grass seeds, or allowinr
iallow, Is enough 10 ruin the finest lands. and
has caused many thousands of acres IN ym-
glnIa, TO be thrown out as commons.
II seems TO be a law of nature, that the 7and
1o,H haze her .SabbaihS, and if not permit,ed
to rest from tillage, it will lose its fertility.
In the Mosaic code, ii was required that thew
should abstain from agriculture every seventh
year, and this was doubtless intended TO pre-
vent The soil from being worn out bv excess
sIve cultivation, a religious sanction heinz
given TO the law 10 prevent its inliaction.
Moses, in describing the calamites that would
ensue from disobedience 20 his laws. saws.
"then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths. as
Tong as IL HeM deSolate, IL shall rest, because
1t did not rest in your Sabbatlis, when We
dwelt upon it," Lev. 26, 80. | Shall here
alter advert TO the natural process bv which
impoverished lands become improved while
lying IN lallow: or growing up in pines, and
shall endeavor 10 show, that there is in tnis.
a beautiful provision made by the Author of
nature, Tor restoring the fertility Of soils which
nave been exhausted by the short sighted DO
Icy of man.
IL is not mournful reflection, that so large
a proportion of the lands of Virginia and
Maryland, should have been impoverished and
deserted by the inhabitants
IT might be supposed that a calamity so
wide spread and Diomentous would long since
nave claimed the serious investigation of our
rulers. in order TO discover the cause and an
ply the proper remedy, or at least TO make
known to the people the nature and seat of
disease, that is Preylng upon the vilals Of the
oody polite, accompanied by symptoms of;
premature decay But what has been the
course pursued by the Legislators of Virgin
Ia Have they not almost uniformly looked
abroad Tor the cause of our prostration in
stead of looking at home : Have thew not
spent their sessions in discussing Federal re-
iatIons, and weaving political distractions that
tend to no practical result They have en-
deavored TO charge upon the Federal govern
ment all the evils we have suffered, and have
affected to consider the protective system as a
burden imposed upon the Southern States i'm
order TO build up the fortunes of Northern
capitalists.
1t is astonishing that the people of Virginia
have been so slow in awakening from this de-
lusive dream, for it reqpires but little sagaci-
ty to see that the more goods there are man
uiactued and thrown into the general markets
of the world, the cheaper they will be to the
consumers; and that The quantity of grain pro-
duced here will be diminished and its price
enhanced by portion of the American peo-
pie turning their attention to manufactures.
BY this means we have provided home
market Tor our produce which is already of
more value TO the grain and hemp growing
States than all the foreign markets in the
world,-being much more steady and secure
from those ruinous fluctuations which attend
our commerce with foreign nations
ii some of the Southern States cannot man
ufacture for themselves, is it not far better for
them to consume American fabrics than to
purchase the same articles in foreign cOun-
tries
The importaiions from abroad are frequent
y made in foreign ships, while the commerce
between the States is exclusively confined to
our own vessels. BY keeping up an active
intercourse and making the different sections
of our country dependent upon each other,
we strengthen the bonds of union and promote
the interest and happiness of the whole CON
federacy.
But, why may not Virginia become a Man
ufaciuring State Has she not all the natur-