The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-04-04
Agrienltural.
FEED J; CROPS.

We. have repeatedly urged the atten-
tion of our readers to the investigation Of
this important subject. It is the corner
stone Of profitable agriculture. To feed
the crops, which we cultivate, un]erstnn-
dinglysit will benecessnry TO know what
particular food they require. This, at
present, is the great enquiry among chem
lists who have turned their attention to this.
subject, and, although much remains to he
discovered, much already been ascertain.
ed, and the time is not far distant when
stillgrcnter knowledge will be elected and
spread abroad. by which the practical far
mer viii be benefited. The expense and
the labor of raising crops will be much
abridged, and as u natural consequence,
farming becomes more profitable. We
have never had doubt TINT every species
of plant required a particular or specific
kind Of food, in order 10 make it flourish
tofthe greatest degree possible. A knowl-
edge eofiWhattliis may be, is what we
wisii.Ses
4 f.sttnslookisgiover the report of the Ohio
Fruit Convention, recently published, we
were pleused 10 find some remarks from
Professor Kirkland, distinguished and
jealous ctil,iyalor in Cleveland, Ohio. up
on the subject, from which we extract the
tollowing,as being more particularly coin
cilent with our own ideas.
Community at large have always
knownth that encli species of animals re-
quircs particular kinds of food TO insure
health, growth, and full development Of
iss,noWers, and that the kinds adapted to
'oXeIspecies, may no, answer for another.
The COW will starve on that which would
fatien thee dog.
That each species Of the vegetable
Kingdom is equally select in its require
ments or food, hns not been generally un-
derslood. An indefinite idea has prevail
ed that all vegetables will flourish in soil
that common language. is rich.
Both science and experience have how
ever, shown us that vegetables, as well as
animals, must be fed with their nppropri-
ute elements of nutrition, in order to -four.
ish. For The last years | have devoted
some time and thought, TO discover the bes.
andsmost economical method Of supplying
fruittrecs, and wheat, with their appro
prihte5 food.
The writings TO which have alluded,
have relieved the subject of much obscu.
riy,and enabled me 10 progress with my
researches and experiments with more
precision.
NY farm originally contained very linn
tied quantities of several important inor-
ganic principles ofWheai, and those had
been 50 entirely, by bad management,
thatwheat would literally produce neither
straw, noraberry.
The pear tree would send forth moi
moret than from ttco to sir inches growth
inn season; fruit bnds would form in ex-
cess, the fruit would be blightcd, knotty
and deficient in flavor, and in lhe course
of fonr8yenrs the tree would exhibit the
evidences of old age and disease. In the
Same soil 1.-THE apple tree would succeed
somewhat better, while The peach and
cherry would flourish both in regard TO
theproduction of wood and fruit to the ex.
tent Of my wishes.
Under these circumstances, set my
self 10 work TO discover The cause Of such
results, and soon became convinced that
il wasn deficiency Of some kind Of nutri-
,tion. The analysis OF Professor Emmons
indicated the kind.
Plaster Of Paris, clover, leached ashes
and small addition of barn-yard manure,
brought some of my barren fields, at the
end Of two years, into condition in which
they produced large crops ofwheat straw,
but yielded only eleven bushels of wheat
lothe acre.
Bysupplying ono of those lots with a
second dressing of plaster, turning in a
large crop ofsclover, and adding subse-
q,iently, a supply Of barn.yard and slaugh-
tcr-Iiouse manure, phosphate Of lime, Oh.
,uincd nineteen bushels of superior whoat