Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-06
The following is IRON gentleman in Henrico
WHO, we are assured, is capital farmer:

AGRICULTURE.
An interesting thesis appeared IN the EnqlI-
rer of March 23!, from the pen Of learned
member of the Medical professions; the object
of which is 10 eli il enquiry on the important
subject Of fcrtlzng the earth.
The grand agent III the operation is, according
10 the writer, shade, As through lis potent IN
nucnce every farmer nay fertze every acre
winch lie can cultivate II IS deeply gratifying
to US, that minds naturally Of no ordinary cal
bre stored with the rc malerlals afforded BY
modern science. can be brought t. bear on our
homely art While we welcome him into the
arena Of agriculture discussion, ! respectfully
undertake, though no. as WEI qualified a the
Editor Of N. Plough, L0om md .InUi, To eX
ANN The diicreu, posi- ions "oased on practI.
cal facts, which have passed under his personal
observation, while directing his thoughts 10
agricultural subjects
Proposition frs, denies, that carbonic acid of
tie atmosphere afford, the principal nutrIment to
any plant which The farmer Is Interested III cui-
tiyaling. aud ailirms that there must be ma
nurc al the root" As The well established le-
SUIT of putting manure At the root oil plants IS
an evolution OF carbonate OF ammonia, and a
low places. and those most abundant in carbonlc
aciI, exhibit the rankest vegetation; and, hna-
H. a pants VIGOROUSLY abound IN caroonic
ac,d or its clements, we are warranted in the
affirmation, that tins gas i an important AGENT
in sustaining vegetable life; II is not infinitely
,mpor, ami 10 agricultural science 10 prove il the
princip4i alment.
Proposition second, points out 7nure as the
only food of pants-mauurc beng here defined
sthe residue Of pulretacion water, OIL, car.
hon, the salts, &C ids aud alkalies, are excluded
from The list Of manurcs, not being the "resldue
OF pu,relaction,' and never having been prusei
TO BE- The aliment u plants, &c. object TO
the learned Doctors definition Of manure; i
will be admissible neither with Us, who iepeDd
solely IN The soil ior the sustenance vi our Ia
| mines, nor with the philosopher IN his labora-
| tory. Farmers mean l., manure, any substance
which, applied 10 CROPS, improves their Growth :
| cached ashes, mari, SCOT, soap.suds AMI brine
are all valuable manures, yet not one OF them
tie "resldue OF pnlrciaction.' One Of the salts
| thus denied place amorg vegetable ailments,
i. 81 phate OF lime; this is not orly manure
a real pab,lil,Bl, nourishing especially ever,
member If the clover tribe. b.t found nya
riabIy in The ashes an. remains of such plant.
a. are most benefited ~ its application To "a,
! that a substance which promotes tic health am
,ruw,h OF an animal or plant, and which Is
| found 1 be an ilYariable constituent thereof i
no, among their aiimens is TO assert para
doS. 81 phatc oil lime, commonly called Gyp
| am or Plaster Of Paris, Isl therefore, ma
nurc, and stu not the residue o; pulrcfacion
Prua.Itl,u 3 ,ea, hes tia, different vrsc,a
hit>. turing ;heiT growth, - not extract dItftfcn
salrs from hc ear.h: il his were rue, common
sell would equally nrhl asparagus and me ,nl
nip, AM pa cr would b. 10 less beneficial I
wheat tban 10 clover ant, eG'e,iS pa,'bns, III
same salts Gpu.G ,Xlst in all vegetables re
suit opposed - every day experience. Lands ex
nau>,.d ueyord the prolitabe cul vation OF Ger
laia crops sometimes paw be''er under oihers.-
Wn-le cora, pamachlisii fax, g., reuse Te
muneroti9c amoun'> hucE whra, geas and cat
often re'uIn The poo, tenant something tJr his "a
| Ouf.
Proposition Alb, which promises Q enrich poo
lands without manure, xii be haed VITA JOY .
many an occupant OF pcvefly-sTicken domains
lei US hope hat tn Doctor may at an earl
tay favor Us with the modus opefandi.
Proposition 9th, which denies disneeralion {
he soil during repnse, is abuntanily cunuovefte
by every winters irosls: as long Is hea! eIpan
AMI cG; ccnlracs, disuegration must ptoefes
with greater ur les Tapliiy; nysromelric change
con,rIane 10 hs result. a. 10 "tCfmatlon oil a
Sa.ies" know Of no such acton elmer With {
4
line carbonalts in mos: cases, aoG more uittou
than Eitt cover.
pr,po.iiion 9Th, fails for reasons stated.
Pronosi,iua I'm Il i uucen bic ina many Lear
q. chenis 5 have, in heir anaiYsrs md teduct,on
osl sigh q; the vita! principle an often !alied
promote The Interests OF agriculture; bul, again
bY their lauCriuus Investigations they have she
a world ot i.hi IN the iuas nsgls tel ait. Anon
me farmers creates, baneiacofs must be classe
those learne; chemists who have taught US no.
10 sweegtn sour LANDS bY alkaline reagents, he
10 redeem from steriiily soils o:crchaTeec vii
cta.k. lime, cnpperas or other sais. Siade vi
not work such results; indeed, where aclaly ID
, moisture are conjoIned shade, is Injurious.
Proposition S n, claims too much tor shade 4
an improver In certain localilIes, and am
! circumstances already enumefaird, the dire
rays of the sun are Indispensable u the anchor
ton OF The soil and production 81 crops. TT
proyoueEt is in error wren re de' laTes ma, p
treiaciy" iefmrnta ion Cannot te nfoducr! Wi
out shade" Animal and vegetable bodies W
rarely tail &c purity when warmth, air and MOI
turr are supplied Deprive them Of he VII
principe, aud shade will be unnecessary, thou.
by no means without utility toward their co
version into manure. II is further stated, III
ECO fertility can, IL any m.rnsr, be impaired
the earth independent Of is influence" VIZ:
. >hate | would ask, in what way a copio
e sprinkliag ot urine can be connected with shac
d in producing suca wonderful ertIIily2
b Proposition ON. That tie earth can &c co
a verted INTO manure rs shading il. Is This OWL
: l. nil;ihcation or pui'elaciion2
: Proposition ION. La those cases where sna
affects The soil iavorahlv j, must dep"nd so'n
wnai IN nr pcriod Of opyiieat,on, whether the t
: Zee. BE- more less permanent tnan ieftilit? pr
II duced by other means.
! Pfoposi ion llh Tire assertion that "su
e face earth or mould" charged as il IS with
y serable remains is mol the result OF vegetable
composition, is a novel one. A detail of :