Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-27

bic her 10 obtain from her broad acres tht
treasures which they contain, with increasing
abundance. And all she has acquired has beer
the slow growth OF centHries OF experiments, no
generally known and accurately understood
Marked and wide is the difference between I'M
mechanics and manufacturers. We see sleau
and mechanism and steam engines, WORKING 10
them, like dumb giants, performing The LABOR 0
thousands, and making Tor them myriaas rPo'
myriads Of their fabrics, while The sons OF ,n
soil still toll on, through The long summer mon'ns
and brave the winters cold 10 reap lne sau'
quantity of produce from the soil that ,heir ia'her
did in generations which are past ana gone.
The farmer possesses advantages in the use
machinery and in the division OF labor pecuia
TO himself He has The same energy OF charac
ter, the same extent Of resources, thai have beer
mainly instrumental in aiding other divisions Q
labor. Why NAV we not cheer ourselves will
The hope that science and arl may do more 10 Ter
tillze The soil and Develop The resources OF ou
lands than il has ever yet donei
should but lily perform The task have un
deraken, and, perhaps, disappoinl your expecla
tons, il | omitted 10 speak OF agriculture as
science and here feel my utter inability 10 en-
tighten you All The agricultural works which
| have ever read are deficient on this point
while knowledge OF this is after ALL The gTea
desideIalum Science, in connection with agri
culture, has reference 10 all those changes in The
arrangement of matter connected with The growth
and nourishmenl Of plants, the constitution oil The
soil, the manner in which lands are enriched by
artificial means, or rendered fertile BY The dihe'
rent processes OF cultivation. These are subjects
| would mol discuss al this tme il possessed The
information and capacity 10 enable me To do so
Their investigation would require more time
~, h, L. oil an ap liz,
tbs
Wherever we go, farm after farm, even whole
districts Of country, present evidences that agIi-
culture is mol understood as a science, and that
farming is not praciised as an ar-lhe soil is not
lcrtlized and its capabilities not increased
Ii is a true test Of ART that il improves The work
Of nature. Any application Of force which fails
in This and cripples its resources, is mol an art,
but a hurtul custom. Ii is a fact so apparent,
that il cannot have escaped The most careless
observer. that large portion Of orr lands are
more valuable in their natural condition than
they are AFTER they have been exposed 10 our
careless and destructive lilage. We see but lew
farms whose natural fertility has been ARTIFICIAL
~ increased.
Science not only furnishes to the agriculluris'
knowledge OF The manner 10 which the elements
combine in forming the products which ne cult
wales, bul il also gives 10 him those habits OF or
der, method and arrangement which make his
practical operations efficient and expedilious.-
The farmers employmenls are varied and change
able, liable 10 be disturbed by adverse seasons and
deransed by causes which he cannot always con
troll Many OF those adverse influences cannot be
perceived, nor can their effects be estimated with
accuracy, and hence we find other avocation,
pursued with more system and scientific Skill
But The farmer should not therefore be discour-
aged. His industry, well applied, will do much
10 modify The effects of uDproptlous seasons and
adverse circumstances; and, however unproduc'
tive his labor may be, il would be still worse
bul for The skill with which il was applied. by
dividing and arranging his labor 10 sui; The diff
ferenl seasons Of the year, The soil and the crops
To be cultivated by adopting method and system
in all his exertons, he will be enabled TO hus-
band his strengh and apply it 10 The greatest ad
vantage He will then be informed OF the work
to be done, The implements TO be used and the
lime and labor which will be required When
no fixed plan is formed and directions are given
every day which have no reference 10 those
which had been given before, the order OF bust
ness is continually disturbed; by shifting from one
thing 10 another before either is completed, labor
falls into confusion 'laborers come 10 fault, and
frequently 10 stand, because they are ignorant Of
the work 10 be performed, The implements to be
used and The course TO be pursued. While this
is perple1ing and harassing, il occasions great
er loss oftime than is generally imagined "
These evils can only be obvaed by established
method, made known 10 all, that each may labor
10 the best advantage, and all proceed harmo-
niously This gives skill, as well as expedition,
10 business, and content and cheeIfulness 10 those
who perform it, He that executes his task with
nealness and despatch, looks upo1 The work OF his
hands with pride and with pleasure, and he is
thereby encouraged 10 continue his labor with
energy and spirit But if he sees that his e1er-
lions are misapplied, for The wan, OF proper di-
recions and arrangement, and that Tor The want
of proper implements and tools, he dclves 10 bui
lille purposes he becomes cowsd and di>PiIiied,
and lie looks upon his employer aud His employ
ment as person would naturally look upon a
silly taskmaster whose interest he ncslecls, and
whose services he oaihes. Despatch is rich
thing, tor time is the measure of business"
While experienced and successful farmers
have differed, and ever hereafter will differ in
opinion about some things, yet they all agree
that accommodating, preserving and applying ma
nures, rearing cattle and other Stock and pro-
tec,ng them from harsh weather in Winter, are
objects TOO desirable and important 10 be neglect
ed; with the same unanimity OF opinion they alb
hor slovenly cultivation, inferior implements and
tools, and neglected teams. Action and manure
are The first and the last requisites in agriculture
II would be an act OF supeIerogatiou in me 10
enter into any argument 10 convince this society
that manure lies at The foundation Of all success
FIJI efforts 10 iertilize the soil and increase its
producliveness. Nothing but manure OF some
kind can restore to the soil those elements which
the preceding crops have exhausted.
On the subject OF applying manures, two OF
The most distinguished farmers Virginia has ever
produced, have differed widely in opinion. One
of them is cold beneath the tomb-(Jo Tay-
lor OF Caroline) YET in The days OF his usefulness
he was no less distinguished as an able states
man than as sagacous ia mer. The other yet
lives, a lighllo tie path and guide 10 The way
Edmund RuliiD.) To him Eastern Virginia is
more indebted than to any other man; Tor his re-
searches first discovered the value aud led 10 The
application Of those calcareous manures which
have made more than two eais OF corn and "iwo
blades OF grass 10 grow where only one grew be-
fore" But he needs no praises from my lips the
fruitful and abundant harvesls, the plenty and The
cheellulncss OF a portion OF our country, are
striking evidences Of his genius and usefulness.
This distinguished agriculturisi, speaking from
his own observation and experience, in late es-
say on pulresccnl manures, and with great con-
fdence in The correctness OF his opinion, says that
by spreading them broadcast on the surface of The
land, "the ienilizing principle Of manure is best
economised, by the largest possible portion being
put 10 use as food Tor plants and the least posi-
ble suffered to go to waste" The distinguished
individual 10 whom first alluded, commended
with equal confidence, that such mannres should
he deposited with turning pouehs below The sur
face Of The soil. For me 10 attempt 10 add any
thing 10 what these distinguished writers and asri-
cullurisls have said, would be as vain and fruit
less as 10 hold up my farlhing rush-lishI, 10 The
blaze OF the sun at noon-day. !! is not for me
To decide, on subject about which The best farm.
ers and writers have differed in opinion. Differ.
ent soils and crops require different management
Both these modes oil applying manures, perhaps
10 some extent have their merits, or they would
not have been 50 ably defended And although
do not SET up my opinion as of any value, ye
The occasion seems 10 require ls expression.
have decided preference TO surface manuring.
especially if the manure is sufficiently rolled and
decomposed. While | occupy your attention on
this subject allow me to commend 10 your consi.
deIation the mixture OF soils; close adhesive earth
by The mere addition Of sand may be opened
and rendered more light and porous and con.
sequently more fertile Soft, light land j.
i'm proved by the addition Of strong binding