Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-02-17


saying TO restore fertility to such lands
such an attempt was at first characterized by
the neIghbors as '..fool-hardiness''-jus such
daring which if displayed on the Mexican
arena would make him something more
than Colonel of Cavalry He has satisfied
ms nelghbors that at no cost, or permanent
cost, those lands can be made to produce
large crops, and be fruitful and productive
as any lands of our country. His views in
regard to "top-dressing'' are very excellent,
as know from experience-my farm has
improved wonderfully in few years, and
many persons ask me what is your secret?
Secret there is nome keep but little
stock aud depasture but lightly, and use
most OF the manure made on the farm in
top dressing the young clover and other
grasses. | have improved many gals by
covering them for two years with brush and
6ridrS.
Twas particularly gratifed in the perusal
Of an article signed "R. S. W." ! hope he
will contribute to your columns, as the force
and beauty of his style is not less observa-
hle than the correctness of his sentiments,
and the practical conclusions at which he
arrives.
Your correspondent &C." says that pzas-
Ter has been by some used "wisI visible adj
vantage on timothy '-The effect must have
been produced by some other cause not
visible, for it has long been an acceeded fact
in agriculture tina, plaster only benefited
broad-leaved plants,-that spear grasses de-
rived no benefit from The use of it, while
corn, clover, cabbage, tobacco, sc. were
greatly improved by its use. Such has been
the received opinion since the experiments
of Sir Humphrey Davy, afterwards confirm
ed by Liebig, Thaer, and every agricultural
chemist of course mean when used in
minute quantities as l bushel per acre for
instance. Mr.. &C" says also, 1.-THE idea of
It's acting on the leaves of the grass and only
on one crop is entirely exploded here.
saw in neighbours field some dark green
ridges in the clover, where it seemed to be
twice as high on the other paris, and was
told by him that he had used plaster on
p.,f..n crop in the drills, TWO years before,
and what saw was the effect Of that appli-
cation" 1t is highly probable 1t was then
on the potatoes in The rows used heavily,
and if so, no question of its effects being seen
wears after, for the large portion of lime
which is component of plaster, would
nave a visible effect on the land for several
years, al least in proportion to the amount
used. There are SO parts of lime in every
100 parts of plaster, believe, which is over
! | peck of lime in every bushel of plaster
To this extent its qualities are lasting and
effects visible in proportion TO the quantity
sown. Plaster is of lasting benefit TO the
soil, because of It's action upon the grasses :;
aud thus aids the land in reinvigoratIng il
! self. hv means of an increased amount of
vegetable matter TO be decomposed above
and below its surface, which increase is
caused mainly by the plaster being the
chemical agent by which the grasses receive
vaIuahIy susleuance from the land. In this
case plaster may be said TO Improve the soil;
bu, where The plants are cut Oft, as corn,
wheat. tobacco, cabbage, SC, then the land
itself is only improved by the use Of plaster
To the extent OF the lime in the plaster
This Improvement would not be, | think,
per"epuble if plaster, as is usual, was
sown at the rate Of one or two bushels
per acre While on this subject, will state
il as fact, lha, after series of years, on
the same land, plaster loses its effect to a
grea, degree. On land which for years has
not had plaster upon ii, or never had, then
its influence is seen most palpahly. The
reason-,he philosophical arhy it is so-ls
what cannot give. know not arhy but
it is so beyond caviI Mr. "C's." statements
in regard to Bone-dus, and Guano are ln,e-
resting, as proofs additional 20 what we have
had from many other writers OF their great
usefulness to the farmer. have taken the
liberty TO offer these views, some of them
slightly adverse to the views of &c" but
hope he will take no exception to them, as
they were written in that spirit of frankness
which characterized his article, and in the
hope that it might be an incentive to his
continuing, his efforts, and saying sat an
other time,' what he '!wished 10 say" but
left unsaid for the purpose, trust of
showing the truth of that beautiful figure he
so happily uses in closing his communica-
tom would say to him and to all your
able contributors, once for all, that if have
dared to be friendly censor, they will not
find me censori0us
In the "Cons,ilu1ion of the Charles Coun-
ty Agricultural Society,"" the 9Th and l2lh
articles are worthy The attention of kindred
associations, and should be engrafled in their
Constitutions. If the spiri, of those articles
are adhered to by those appointed to act un-
der them, fund of valuable information,
useful statistics, and correc, data for sound
reflection, will be amassed, that will be of
incaculable value TO those who read and
profit by them, and will rebound to the hon
or of their respective authors. BY the re-
port of the several committees to be appoint
confidence, tina, more good will result to the