Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-04-04
NEW INDICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE.

BY DR.. II. T. BALDWIN, OF WINCHESTER, VA.
.Nessrs. Editors Of The Plough, Loom and .4arii
The indications | have drawn from the practical
facts which have passed under my personal obser-
walton, since my attention has been directed to the
eubect of agriculture differ so materially from the
received opinions of the present day, that have
been induced TO submit them for your consideration,
under the hope and expectation that you or some
one equally qualified, will correct them if they
should prove TO be erroneous. With this view,
shall state them In distinct, substantive PROPOSE
tons.
LIST. 1t is not true that any plant which the far
mer IS interested in cutivating, derives its princi
pal nutriment from the carbonic acid gas of the at
mOsphere. Although air is indispensable TO vege-
table well to animal life, it is equally true that
no animal can live without food, aud no plant exist
in an Impoverished soil without manure at the root,
Cd. That the only food Of plants known to the
practical farmer is manure, the residue Of putre
faction Neither water, oil, carbon, phloglson, nor
the sulphates, nitra;es, muriaies, carbonates, sill
Gates, phosphates of soda and potash, the car
Donates, sulphates, phosphates of ammonia, lime,
magneSia, nor acids, nor alkaies, have ever been
Ir0Ucd 10 be the aiment of plants unconnected with
the purified substances which may contain them.
Sd. II is not true that different vegetable matters,
during their growth, extract different fer,ilzlng
salts from the earth. For lands exhausted by con,
tinued cultivation in one kind OF grain will not pro
duce 4 more remunerative crop of any other kind
4th. 1t is not true that lands under cultivation
cannot be made to preserve their natural fertility
without manure on the contrary, lands naturally
poor may be made exceedingly fertile without the
addition of manure, o any kind whatever
9Th. There is no natural disintegraon of the
soil in state of repose, and formation Ofalkalies
unless its surface be covered with some substances
or other Exhausted lands, which remain uncov-
ered never improve in fertility by rest.
9th The residue of the decomposition Of vegeta-
BILE substances, the lash of plsnts" is not ma
nure. Nor can manure be made of any substance,
without the aid of the putreiactive process.
9TH. That the nalytical investigations Of learn
ed chemists, totally dsregardng the vital principle
OK lie, have not promoted the interest agriculture
On the contrary, diverling the attention of sgrcul-
tursts from careful observations of the operation OF
nature, and the inducVe reaSonngs drawn there
from, have been decidedly injurious TO its best in
terests.
6th That shade is the great fertilizng agent; the
puireactlve fermentation cannot be produced with.
out 1t, and consequently no manures be made
and no fertility impaired to the earth, IN any man
ncr, Independent of its influence.
9th. That the earth itself is capable ofbeing con-
verted into the best manure; effect this it is only
necessary that ii should be densely shaded. That
is it should be located flvorably for the generation
Of the putretactive fermentation.
lUlh. That the fertility impaired TO the soil is
more permanent, when prodccod by shade, than
from the application Of any manure whatever.
lth. That every particle OF EARTH rs it is natu-
rally constituted, contains portion of the iertilizing
principle. The surface EARTH or ''mould,' is fer
tilizing earth itself caused by shade, and not the
residue OF vegetable decomposition.
18th. The difference in the fertility of the soil
in our native forest lands, arises solely from the cir
cumstance of the surface soil being more or less
densey shaded. Pine, which have no leaves and
white and red oak, which part with theirs SO reuct-
antly never leave the surface so fertile as those
trees which drop their leaves with the first frosts
18th. Many plants do impart more fertility to
the soil than they extract fomt during their growth
NOT in .'excrements," but by their shade
18th. The natural provision OF the renovation
of worn out lands appears to be this That some
plants, like some animals, require but little food
these thrive best on the poorest soils. Every prac
tical farmer knows that if additional fertility be
given to the soil, they disappear almost magicaly
18TH However industrious aud energetic far
mer may be, he cannot continue 10 cultivate farm
exceeding hundred acres, and preserve its nat
ura fertility by manure made on the farm. He at
tempts an impossibility and must fail.
10th. Through the agency of shade every farmer
may fertilize every acre of land which he is able to
cultivate. In this, consists the perfection of agri-
culture.
l most sincerely believe that these propositions
may be abundantly sustained by facts, prominently
before the observation of every agricuturist. Yours
with respect. r. L. BALDWIN.