Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-23
NEW INDICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE.

b. DIR n. T. BALDWIN, OF wISCHEsTEh, VA.
Mssas Eaifors Of tic Plough, Loom aud .inuii
The indications have drawn from the practi.
cal facts which have passed. under my personal
observation since my attention has been direct
ed 10 The subject Of agriculture, differ 50 mate
rally from the received opinions of the present
day, that have been induced 10 submit them
Tor YOUR consideration, under The hore and ex-
| pectation that you or some one equally qualified,
viii correct them if they should prove 10 be err
roneous With this view, | shall state them in
distinct, substantive propositions.
| Isl. II is not true that any pant which the
farmer is interested in cullivatiug, derives lis
principal nulriment from The carbonlc acid gas
| of the atmosphere. Although air is ndispensa-
BILE 10 vegetable as well as 10 animal life, il IS
equally true that no animal can live without food,
and no plant exist in an impoverished soil with
out manure al the root.
%. That the only food Of plants known 10
the practical farmer is manure, or the residue
Of putrcfac,ion Neither waller, oil, carbon,
phlogiston, nor the sulphaes, nitrates, murlales,
carbouates, silicates, phosphatcs of soda and
potash nor the carbonates, sulpha;es, phos-
pilates of ammonia, lime, magnesia; nor acids.
nor slkalies. have ever been proved TO be the
fed substances which may contain them.
Sd. 1t is not true lha, different vegetable mat
tiers, during their growth, e1tIact different ferli
lzug salts from the earth For lands exhaust
cd by continued cultivation in one kind OF grain
will not produce q more remuneratiye crop Of
any other kind.
4lh Ii is not true that lands under cultivation
cannot be made to preserve their natural ferli-
LAM al.
turally poor may DO made exceedingly fertile
without the addition Of manure, Of any kind
whatever.
5,h. There is no natural disinlegralion of The
soil in state Of repose, and a formation of al.
kalies, unless lis surface be covered with some
substances or other Exhausted lands, which
remain uncovered, never improve in fertility BY
rest.
oh. The residue Of The decomposition Of veee-
table substances, or the lash of plants" is not
manure Nor can manure be made Of anu sub
stance without the aid OF The putteiactive process.
III. THAI the analytical Investigations OF leaf
ned chemists, lolally disregardng the vital prn-
ciple OF lite, have not promoted The interest OF ae-
rculure. On the contrary, diyertng the alter.
ton of agrculturists from careful observations 81
tie operation oi nature, and The induclve reason
inss drawn lhere!ioa, have been decidedly inJu-
rlnus 10 is best interests.
9Th THAI, shade is the great feriilzing ageni;
The purciaclve Fermentation cannot b. produced
without IL, AMI consequently TO manures can br
made, and no fertility impaired 10 the earth, IN
ann manner, independent Ut It's influence.
Oh. Tna, The earh iiseii is capable OF being
converted into The best manure; TO effect this il is
only necessary that il should be densely shaded
That is il should be located favorably for the ge-
neratiun Of he pulrcactive fermentation.
ION. That The fertility impaired 10 The soil is
more permanent when produced by shade, than
from the application Of any manure whatever.
lIh. Thai every particle OF cath, a il IS nat
urally constituted, contains portion OF the Ter
iiizug principle. The surface earth, or 'mould,"
5 fenIIlzing earth Itself causrd by shade, and moi
he residue Of vegetable decomposition.
18th The difference in The fertility oi The Sill
in orr native torres, lands, arises solely from The
circumstance OF Inc surface soil being mere o.
.ess drnsely shaded. Pine which have no leaves
and white and red oak, which part with theirs
50 reluctantly, never leave The surface SO ieIIrr
az those trees which tTop their leaves with The
first itosls.
18Th. Many plants do imparl more fertility 10
he soil than they extract from Il during their
growth,-nol in "excIements,' bu. by their
shade.
l4Ih. The natural provision OF The renovation
o. worn out anus dpptais w ue ih's - Hh1 sOHc
plants, IKE some animals require bur IIlll- ooG:
tLese thrive best on The poorest soils Every
PRACTICAL farmer, knows, that II addllicral eIil
~ be given 10 the soil, they disappear almost
magcaliv.
18th. However industrious and energetic
farmer may be, he cannot CONTINUE 10 cultivate
arm exceeding one hundred acres, and preserve
il natural fertility 10y manure made on tie farm.
He attempts al impossIbilily and mus TAIL.
16h Through the agency u shade every Tar
mcr may ieriiiize every acre OF land which H.
is able 10 cultivate. In This, consists the Pefec-
| ior Of agriculture.
I most sincerely believe that these propositions
may be abundantly sustained by facts, Prom
iuenily before the observation OF every aericu!.
lurist. Yours, with respect.
DaI nAIN