The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-07-04
WHAT is THE BEST MANUBE FOR
SANDY LAND.

WHAT is THE BEST MANUBE FOR
SANDY LAND.
Without prc,c'd 4g to say "wha. is the
best manure for sanity land, we will content
onrscIf with observing that if we had our
choice between 20 double horse-cart loads
nf stable manure, and 10 loads of Virgin
clay and 10 loads uf stable manure which
had been well mixed gelher, we should
prefer tho latter compost. The clay portion
beside acting as an 0mender "t the texture
Of the soil, thereby partially imparting to it
the capacity to hold manure and retain mos
lurc, two most desirable qualities, would in
all probability. add to it no incnusidcrable
portion of potosh, substance proved 10
form one of the constituents Of most clay.
an whose agency in The formation of the
SHicafe of potash, is essential in all soils, as
the outer crust Of all grasse~and grains cam
not he constituted well without il. The
tlint-lke substance apparent upon the face
of the corn stalk, and on The straw of tho
small grains, is thus constituted. Without.
therefore,, potash he present in the soil, to
dlso VIC SiI ca, combine with it, and fnrm the
essential compound named above, il would
he faI'acious to expect the grains cnumcra
| ted above to ,tand erect and perform their
respective Offices Of bearing fruit. So far
as ;hc formation OF this snlicate of potash
may be concerned, and application %! I'M
bcachcd ashes would answer. as the potash
contained therein would very efficiently
operate tn produce the same desirable el.
feet; but as full supplies of ashes can only he
nblained in the immediate neiahbnrho"d of
large cities. The substitution of vrgi in clay
for them may well become matter Of grave
conclusion.
We do not pretend to affirm. that ten loads
Of srci, clay rs we have mentioned, would
be All ample d'se' to bring abnut perma
ncnt amendment Of an acre of dry soil; nc-
lhcr do We affirm that such quantity
would yield sutticiency Of potash, because
we do not subscribe to either one or the 9TH
cr nf these opinions. and only desire TO urge
our preference for it as an alternative choice.
To give The proper c"ns~icncc and tenacty
to sandy s iii, would rcqu;' many repctIIions
of the dose Of clay which we have prescri-
he'd. which quantity has been nameI by us
from the desire we feel not 10 impose too
onrrn,ls labor upon our agricultural brethren
AT any one time. prcIrrrlng that their works
Of moderation shnn'd be performed by grad
nal stages. and thus relieved The objection OF
too much labor, which is ST. often urged with
the show Of pIans;biIity.
Those wln manure as they ought, usually
apply 60 loads of stable or barnvard manure
to The acre. and surely if they can substitute
10 loads of clay, for 50 many Of manure with
equal, if not more, benefit to their land and
we have no doubt of the fact, self interest,
tina, great momentum in all human actions.
would Indicate that they should do so. Thit
thew would experience benefit in The first
crop, we do not entertain the slightest doubt
and as little, that the degree nfbenefit would
induce them to repeat the dose of clay each
Succeeding year, until their sandy soil had
been converted into sandy loan. and had
impaired to it the mechanical capacity Of
holding manure, retaining moisture, and OF
pcrfnrming every function belonging TO Il
crrIc soil and VIC need not add that once
placed IN that condition. it would be an easy
matter To continue it by Il ndIcious rotation
o. crops and The use of mineral manurcS. as
lime and plaster and their adjunct clover.
Indeed, fit were nor that wc do not wish To
alarm onr friend, by asking too much "i him
we would say, that he should spread, annu.
ally, over his field of sandy land, while 1t
may be undergoing the process Of being man
nrrd and c!avcd, at least 20 bushels of lime,
until he shall have reached our maximum
1uantlyo flOOO bushels to the acre; the lime
Of course, to be spread on the surface after
the CLAW and manure compost had been
plnughrd in. Where a sandy surface soil.
may rest upon hard pau or clay subSn J.,
the labor of hauling may be saved, by
p!nughng deep and then cross pInugh 81 as
tnmlx the two different soils together. This
done let the field be thoroughly narrowed
and cross narrowed. then put on tic manure
plough it il and harrow; then spread on
fon 25 to 80 bushels OF lime. We are
cornizant of field of exhausted sandy land
which has been restored to fertility in this
way, without The least injury resulting from
turning up the 81 much dreaded srrhsoII.
The operation was performed in the fall, the
field was planted in corn the succeeding
spring, vicllrd well, was seeded in wheat
The ensuing autumn. gave a fair product, hal
CT .vcr seeded IN the wheat. which prodnccd
a good crap of grass. and by jndIc'"uS man
aremcn, since. tho fertility OF the soil has
been continued.
TIE FEELING IN IRELAND.