The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-19
FERTILIzING THE son.

FERTILlZlNG THE SOIL.
The golden rule in agriculture is 10 apply such
manures and tlllage as will make heavy land
lighter, and light land heavier, cold land hotter
and hot land colder. He only is a farmer who
knows and follows this rule.
Lands are seldom so rich but it may be a mat.
ter OF gam 10 increase their fertility: and few
tracts are so poor but that with proper tiIlage and
manurlng, they may be made the residence Of
plenty.
Manures are composed of all those substances
winch either directly or indirectly, supply plants
with their requisite food, by means of which theS>
are enabledto expand and como to maturity.
In The lrst place the different earths will serve
TO manure each other. Thus, clay is a fertilizer
OF a light sandy soil, and sand is equally a fertil-
Izer OF clay. Where clay is applied 10 a sandy
SOIL, II should DC carted on in the fall, and spread
evenly over the ground, that the frost NAV pul-
verIze IT before ii is mixed with the soil in the
spring.
Ihe better these earths are mixed in the res.
pectlVe soils, the more sensible and immediate
VIII be their ettect but their principal excellence
Is thai they are calculated permanently to I'M
prove the soils TO which they are applied-Stif
roams are also in The same way assisted by sand.
ana sand again by these but neither in SO great
a degree as IN the former case. Generally it nav
De observed that all light, dry soils are improved
by oelng mixed with heavy earths, and Uice versa.
Sand and fine gravel will greatly ~fertillze the
SOIL OF bog meadows, and this earth again is We
rry good manure forall upland soils. 1t is pecu.
liarly excellent for Indian corn when applied 10
'ie hIlis, and is very good for flax, hemp, and
most other summer crops. Like gypsum, it is
friendly TO the growth of white clover. When
applied 10 upland grasses it should be laid on as
a top dressing. Every kind of black mud from
ponds and swamps, answers a somewhat similar
purpose; though if the mud be stiff and clayey.
II should only be applied to a light dry soil.
The different sorts of mari found in bor-swamp
are also excellent manures for all upland soils.
These earths are usually found at the depth of
from one to three feet from the surface, and are
either OF a white, gray or brownish color. The
former is the most eficacious, and the latter the
least SO, their strength being in proportion TO the
quantity OF carbonate of lime they contain. 1t
IS best to mix these earths with the mass of
black earth or bog dirt, that forms the upper stra-
tum, IN order TO reduce their strength, and when
thus mixed, a load of even the weakest kind ia
more ettlcaclous than two of common barn dung.
Ihelr operation as manures is similar to that
OF the Nova Scotia gypsum, have little or no eff
iect when first applied to wheat and rye; but by
lis covering the ground with a thick
gioWth OF white clover, il is then rendered 6t for
producing largely of these crops. The same
smay be observed of the bog dirt.-Like this,
F&nese marls are peculiarly excellent for Indian
corn, and all summer gram, and a less quantity
is sufficient. They may be used as top-dressing
or otherwise.
Ashes as a manure are found to be more eff
caclous in some parts of tho country than in 9th
crs, generally most SO when applied 20 lands near
the ocean. In som parts where the soil i ex-
tremeIy light, and the bottom sand, the farmer
can afford 10 pay twelve and a half cents a bush
ell, while in other parts, they are suffered TO lie
untouched absut the potasheries.
Ashes generally answer the most valuable pur-
pose when applied TO Indian corn, particularly
where the soil is not suitable to this plant
Where the soil is wet, cold, loamy or clayey.
Tths plants are apt TO get stunned with the cold
RAM which usually fall after planting; and then
the ashes. serve TO supply the natural deficiencies
OF the soil, till it becomes fortified by The sun.
By Ghen the soil is natural 10 the growth Of this
tplan, and there is no danger of its being stun
ned at its outset, perhaps It may be better 10 ap-
Iply the ashes later, so that the plants NAV derive
" 5 SS'oeuAtN lOiI tiiIS lIldlluTGs Wllll0
the ears are setting and forming
Ashes should generally be used for top-dres-
sing; their salts lose nothing by exposure to the
ajr, and soon find their way into the sod.
SCOT is much more eflicacious than ashes; be-
SIDES salts, it contains oil.-The SCOT of coal IS
esteemed equally as that Of wood. 1t is used for
top-dressing and requires about 40 bushels for
an acre. When applied to winter grain itshould
be sown in the spring; and the same may be OBJ
served of ashes. Coal SCOT is particularly very
good for meadow lands which have become sour
and messy. This manure, can however, only be
had in considerable quantities in large towns.
OF salts, which serve as manures, the princi.
pal are the ommon sea salt, urine, stale of cat
lie' sea wafer, salt petre and alkaline salts. To
the latter, the virtue of ashes, as a manure, is
Principally owing. Soapsuds is in part valuable
on account of IFS alkaline salts, and perhaps the
naturalized oil it contains adds much TO its value.
1t is usual 10 throw this manure away, but this is
a needless waste. 1t may be taken in the wa
terng pot and strewed over the garden, wherei il
Will be OF great service as a manure and in ex-
polling insects.
BLIGHT IN PEAR TREES.
A friend has Just mentioned 10 us a remedy