Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-07-12
From the Southern Cultiuator.
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT
OF THE SOIL.

sin,ply To call the attention OF farmers
to one great error that is common 10 all
in this part of the State. viz: manning
the lands of Middle Georgi" and South
Carolina, with puIrpsc'nt manures. II
is almost as bad as pouring water IN II
sieve. 1t is true. it remains short
time, in each case, but the work must
DC doae over every little while.
A distinguished agricullurisr has laid
down several rules. which have found
to be true: 1st. The natural steTl''Iy oil
our soils is caused by their being d"st'-
tu,e of cohesive earlhs, &c. Cd. Tho
fer,ilizing effects of lime ATE produced
chiefly by its power "r neulralIz'ng
acids, and Of combining pulrescent ma
nurcs with the soil, between which there
would otherwise be liI,ic, if any cheml'
cal attraction. 4;h. Poor and acd soils
cannot be improved dulably or proii'a>
bly, by pu,rescenl manures, without pre-
viousIy making Them ca'careous. 1t
has been shown, that ali fertile soils con-
tain not less than fifteen elementary
substances, in various combinations with
each other. II is, therefore, obvious
that such principles as fertile suils lur>
Dish to vegetables, must be contained in
lnanu;cs If poor natural soils cannot
oc psof,abIy improved by pn'resccnt
mann.es, this uutl, should not only be
known, but constantly kept in mind.
How often do we see the entcrpIlsing
and industrious, after working for years,
Give up the idea Of improving their old
land, abandon their home, and seek d
new situation in the fertile (racarccus)
land of the West? Why is it that the
lands Of some parts of Europe have
been under heavy cultivation for thou,
sands Of years, and We hca, no COM
plains that their natural fertility cannot
be kept up by pu'rescenI mannrrs -!
Why is i, that our woodlands, Which
have been manured for ages Ly decaycd
leaves and limbs, arc yet so poor, while
those of Kentucky are SO rich? Have
they not been equally subject TO The
same treatment? Why !he difference ?
Notwithstanding This heavy manuting,
which exceeds all that the industry and
patience of man can accomplish, mosr
of our woodlands are poor; and This
ONE fact, (which, at least, is indispula
tle, ought to satisfy all of the impossi.
biity of enriching our soils, by pune
scent manures alone. Some few acres
may be improved by receiving all the
manure derived from the farm; and en-
tire farms in the ncighborhouds OF
towns may be kept Iich by the continued
application Of large quantities of bough,
mannrc. But nowhere can farm be
improved beyond lis original fertility,
by means Of the vegetable resources Of
its own arabic fields. II this opinion
is wrong, nothing is easier Than for some
Of the readers Of the Cultivator TO prove
my mistake.
The absence Of putrescent vegetable
matter might well be considered the
cause of sterili,y by one who Judged
only from lands long under cultivation.
But, though vegetable matter in sufli>
cient quantity is essential to the exist
ence Of fertility, yet will this substance
be found inadequate 10 the cause. Ii
abounds in all rich lands, ii is admitted ;
but it has also been furnished by Nature,
in quantities exceeding all computation,
to tho most barren soils known. But
there is one ingredisnt, OF Whit h not the
smallest portion can be found in our
poor soils, and which, wherever found,
indicates suil remarkable for natural,
durable fertility, and easy Of reclaiming
when worn. These facts, il! sustained
will 90 far TO prove that this cnllIl is
the cause of fertility, and cure for bar
renness in our soils will make this
assertion; all Of our fine lands can be
brought mto successful cultivation, by
the application of lime and clay. Lime
ought to be delivered, for agricultural
purposes, on our railroads, al / 8 cents Il
bushe. This would give every one the
means of using it. The gardeners
around Augusta have source of lime
in the accumulation of bones that may
be ionnd just above your city. (Wouid
it not be better TO gather them up than
10 let them stay where they areD Phos-
phate OF lime is one Of our most feriijlz-
log agents. But coHtrvances, r sultlng
from the manners of civilization, vas,
quantities OF our best manures, (phos-
pilates, &c. are wasted in sinks,
.ivers, &c. Ii has been estimated, that
If it we're possible 10 restore tu England
the phosphalcs that have been carried
into III. Thames, during the last fifty
years, it would be equal 10 maturing
with millions of tons oil bones, aud the
produce of The land would be Increased
onc-,l,ird, o. double in eight or ten
years. At present the importation of
houes is one million bushels, bu it is not
equal TO the waste. We can and ought
10 restore to land all we take from it.
Al 4