Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-18

grew as finely as ever saw, promising fine
yield, until about the 25ih Of July. Al thai
time. Tor several days. heavy rains and hol sun
shine alIernaled, producing q state Of fermen-
nlion in the root, which ended in the destruction
of hall the crop. Observation warranis me in
saying thai the rain or hot weather was the in.
dueiHg cause Of the rot, for il ceased with clear,
cool weather.
The real cause was the lack Of some agent
necessary TO iIs lull formation. and which would
have rendered il proof agains, the exciting
cause. Says one, ''Did you not manure some
OF lhemi'' So did; but did the manure con.
tain all that was necessary 10 the growth of the
POIaloel lf II contained enough for ordinary
weather. did il contain enough to be in proper.
lion uller the immense lall Of rainl For il
must be remembered that oxygen and hydro.
gen, the component paris Of water. enter into
vegetables by first dssolying other agents, and
then, If the ground is not rich in proportion,
some will enter more largely than Others.
In order, f possible. to illustrate, will note
case which may be observed by every farmer.
Farmers sometimes thresh their wheat in the
field, selecting poor spot, that will hardly yield
FIVE bushels TO the acre. The straw is allowed
to lie here and rot, or is plowed under to enrich
tho worn-ouI soil. In course Of time, another
sowing Of wheat takes place; and when spring
comes, the farmer congratulaies himself upon
having in the field al least one spot Of good
wheat. Harvest comes, an the hands cut up 10
the place, but they find the straw all tumble
down, and the heads not filled. 40" says one,
"ihs ground is entirely too rich"
I (lrunntic L
ground was only half rich enough. The straw
contained only those agents necessary 10 repro.
duce straw, and from the aptitude of the rolIing
straw to hold and appropriate the component
paris OF water, the stalk shoots up without
strength 10 support its overgrown weight. II
the ground had contained the Ingredients Of the
grain, and the salts Of lime, &C., 10 strengthen
The stalk, there could have been no ailue.-
ant this spot in corn, and the long ears in au.
Iumn will tell that the ground possessed all that
was necessary for its perfect growth. | have
seen these spots fail in one gram and succeed in
another; but it was a wonder, until organic
chemistry explained the mystery. Many time
have wondered why a slalk of corn would not
grow IN pile Of manure having seen them come
up there early in the spring. 1t ceases to be a
wonder when we learn that the pile is only rich
IN reference TO amonia, &C., aud poor in regard
to several agents. The ground can never be
too rich, if II holds all the agents Of growth in
just proportion; for The paul will apply what is
demanded for its support, and leave The balance
for another time.
think the views here taken are in strict ac-
cordance with science. Then we should learn
tho importance Of knowing what the soil has,
what is wanting. what manures have, aud then
we can apply Them SO as to render the required
assistance. Some may wish to know why straw
rolted IN the bnrn-yard, where stock run over
II, makes better manure than that rolted in The
field. Simply because the deposits OF the ca
tie supply what is lacking in lht field. When
quite small remember seeing large quantity
Of lime applied to field, us was told. ''to
make it rich" The trouble was not repaid and
the system Of lining was abandoned. The
persons who did it cannot YET tell why it was
that no good resulted. Science steps in, and
tells the man of careful observation, that the
ground had lime enough, aud that il wanted
something else. But more of this at another
time, for long articles are likely to be neglected.
Frankfort, KY, Feb. l849. J. l..
Dollar Newspaper.