The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-09-28
From the N. E. Farmer.
Clay.

his earth Is, as most OF your readers
are probably well aware, ga compound Of
silica and algmina." These constituents
are not merely tniugled together, tut chem.
ically combined. 10 much Of the clay
fouud in nature, there is an extra quantity
OF silica, which exists in il in the form
of sand, of various degrees of fneness. -
Clay also, IN all cases, contains iron in a
higher or lower state Of oxidation, aud II
is probable that this metal constitutes an
essential part of IT," This, indeed, is now
the prevalent view taken of the subject, by
those who have most carefully examin-
ed II, aud there appears hu, little gfouud
to doubt the correctness of the conclusion.
Tins matter, oxide, is of various eolors,
and is, indeed, dependant upon The de.
gree Of oxidation. II is sometimes red,
sometimes black, brown aud yellow. The
:" back indicates the lowest degree Of OK.
Idailon, and the red The highest
Asa general thing, the presence Of The
clay, IN some quinlliy, seems 10 be ndls-
pensabIe 10 the fertility of soils and hence
| tiud that light, pulyerulent, aud saub,i.
Gus losms are decidedly improved by
spreading clay upon them, and mixing II,
IN pulseuz-d state, with the sup nor
stratum, or surface soil, and IN such guam.
itv as ls necessary 10 insure an increased
absorbent power. as well as greater com
'essiblliiy of the entire stratum which .
the medium Of vegetable termination aud
ID l,,,l q a
invariably Of a sandy texture, possessed OF
lill!e productive energy, and too light 10 be
successfully worked, becomes highly fer
tile when highly ameiioraiea BY liberal
application Of clay.
4 friend Of mine from the east remarks
in reference to the subject Of amalgama-
lion, as follows: "N hen | con mencet
life, my means we're too limited 10 allow
OF my purchasing, or even seriously link.
ing Of such farm ns wished to possess
Compelled by necessity, | lherof re sal
down on ttac, Of plains land, which
purchased for two dollars per acre. The
growth was mostly pine, and species O.
dwarf vegetation, called here gray birch,
wiki pro(use 'cfcp' Of orbush, com
posed Of fern, ~hor;.cberry, aud other d.
mGutys shrubs.
" As soon as the so,! was broken, ! com
( menced hauiing Oh clay, and have con,in
uod the practice conslauily ever since.
have no. bFough, no.t Of my farm 10 {
degree Of productiveuess not surpassed,
presume by The best loan lands IN thl
State. The last season, | harvested nine
/ tyseven and ball bushels Of sound Iadiar
corn from an acre, aud from a field al
joining, measuring four acres, took eghr
su3 th'ee.fourihs ions Of English hay
nea'ly iNo and quarter tons per acre.
am It'll improving these fields BY con,lnu
log he process Of ANA 'gamAtIon-iherC
beng not yet clay eaoosh TO qualify the
sand
\ MoSTG1NEGY CoVsTy FARMER.
July 10, l-I9.
- Germantown YtltgrGph.
Remarks b. Editor v. z. Farmtr.-ll
New England, there are great man.
thousand acres Of ligh, lands that are re
garded as almost worthless, that might tC
rendered f-r'lle hy the addition of clay ana
coed culture and clay banks are commoE
near such lands. Yet these lands, foi
mics and miles in lx.ent, even near goot
markets, are neglected, while many far
mers have passed BY them, gone thirty L
ore hundred miles farther into the interior
aud there til hard, rugged soil for scaniJ
cropa and pass over these lands q cas-,
culture, on their WY 10 market, With lhei
produce, hich hns cost as much "a II
transportation a. il Would ralse the sans
produce on these Ugh, lands, # placed u
der lldlclous management.