Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-11-19
New Theory of ManureS.

We give place win pleasure W tne
inclosed communication from Doctor BALD
win. Should the theory it maintains be
finally established, the discovery will con-
stitute very striking epoch in agrlcutu-
raj annals. Who has not observed In the
midst of the poorest old fields, luxnrlant
growths of grass coming through its
branches were a bush lies covering the
While we should like to know
what the scientific have to say to this
theory, we have understood that the plain
practical farmers in the valley, now be-
iieye they can make their lands rich by
shading them with anything; according
-ly they are covering them with brush,
straw and clover, finding, as it is said, the
raw material better and more profitable
than the manufactured article, that is, the
shade to be better than the manure.--Ed.
Plough, Loom and .4nUa.
WINCHESTER, September.
Dear Sir:-I submit for the consider
alton of your agricultural readers, few
plain propositions. If you are possessed
aSany facts, which create doubt of the
truth of any one of them, | shall be pleas
ed to see them stated in your journal.
Proposition LIST. Or The variUus chan
pes which vegetable and animal substan-
ces undergo, during their decomposition,
the product of the one only which has
proved to be the alment of plants, Is the
.Iesys.ge putrefachon.
ID. Each change is distinct and Pc
culiar chemical process, differing not only
in the circumstances requisite TO produce
il. but also in the nature and chemical
composition of each product.
Sd. The value of each product depends
very materially, upon the attention paid TO
the circumstances necessary to generate
each peculiar process. This is known to
be true with regard TO the vinous and ace
tous fermentation, and is equally true with
regard TO every other.
4th. That close, cool, dark and
damn location, with a contact OF air. rs IN
dispensible to the generation OF the putre-
factive process. All organic substances
experience this change only, when thus
located.
9Th. No substance whatsoever, will
undergo the putrefactive process when ex-
posed to heat, light, and free circulation
Of air.
9th. That decay, or eremacausis, is
distinct chemical process, differing essen
tally from the putrefactive, in the clrcum-
stances which produce it, as well as IN the
quantity and quality ofthe product, which
is invariably destitute of ier'lllzrng VIZ
tues.
9TH. Purefaction may be considered
the ultimate result of vegetable and ami
NAL decompositions, because II forms the
only product incapable of any other chem
ical change, and is, consequently indie
sructible. :.
9Th. That the excrement of animals is
mot manure. Like the bodies of animals,
!, never becomes the food of plants, until
subject to putrefactiol.
9TH. That the value Of manure mate
rally depends upon the perfection OF the
nutrefactiye process that is, the strength
or fertilizing qualities Of the manure may
always be estimated by the density and
duration of the shade to which it has been
10Th. Thattile surface of the earth it.
self will readily undergo the putrefactive
nrocess, if favorably located--that is il
ddensely shaded, which of necessity i'm.
niles a cool, dark, close and damp loca'
ton.
Ild,. That the fertility impaired &c
The earth by shade--this is, manure made
of the earth itself, is more durable and
therefore. more valuable, than that made
of any other substance whatsoever.
10Th. I, is not true that the impover
ished condition of any soil proceeds from
deficiency in one or more of its minera
constituents, because all soils, alike. may
he made exceedingly fertile by shade a
lone. Yours, respectfully,
r. L. BALDWIN.