The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-05-09

bic, atmospherical and the mineral.
. The former Is the decomposition Of all
Z vegetable substances, and forms the bulk
Of compost manures, of which more here
after.
The atmosphere that surrounds us burns
! with matter that affords life and nourish-
t ment to all kinds OF vegetation. This is
called atmosphercal manure. How TO ex-
] tract aliment from the air and convey it to
d the soil is an important inquiry to the agri-
J culturist. The best plan, in our opinion, is
that recommended in our report 10 the last
meeting, 1. e., turping under green crops.
Manures from the mineral source, gyp-
sumNlime, &C., are scarce materials in our
5 vicinity, and it would not be profitable to
bring them from a distance for manuring a
plantation. Our main reliance must be
r in the two former sorts, and to them we re-
t specially direct attention.
The expedients which the dearness Of
land and the cheapDess Of labor have fore
ed certain foreign countries flor China and
many Of the European countries would
have been depopulated but for manure and
good tillage) to adopt, cannot for ages be
come profitable here where the farmer gem
orally tills his own soil and his laboreFs are
protected as being worthy Of care. Hence
the curious "shed," in genius 'stercoranis,
on mellow compost "pies," Of which prints
are given, and on which long essays have
been written, we are convinced are neither
adapted to our country, nor our purses, or
our plan, and we venture the assertion that
if any attempts to cultivate a large farm
here, after the most approved method
which foreign scientific farmers would
have US adopt, he would have an empty
barn, and in a short time an empty purse.
In the above remarks, we would not be
misunderstood, we Go not intend to under
value the Developments of science, but
would caution you against impracticable
visions of the Tyro, and enthusiast, who
would sit in his ~clolster or library and
write practical facts and report experiments
on agricul ture, which had existence only in
his fruitful Imagination. We would exhort
you to subject all theories upon the subject
to a careful mental scrutiny, and if they
have plausibility, place them in the alum
bic OF experience, and if they bear that
test treasur them as you would precepts of
"holy writ"
Again, we canno too strongly recon-
mend barn yard and compost manures.
They should be made as near the spot used
as possible. We would suggest the haul
ing in the summer on the field forest leaves,
and other litter, and these make compost
heaps for the next winters use.
The best mode Of applying manure is
broad cast and plough it in Immediately ;
but as we are not furnished with it iu suf-
dcieOt quantities to do this to any exte Mt,
the drill method is to be recommended. In
fact, though it should seem like feeding
mother earth with a spoon, we have, in or
der to make our manure go farther, dibbled
It 10 the furTow at such distances asunder
as L might seem best to have a stalk, and
risk the chances Of being able to identity
that one which would most likely enjoy the
fullest benefit.
Cotton seed is an article with which we
have had much experience as a manure for
corn. After the negotiating qualities have
been destroyed BY heating them in bulk,
we place a large handful about each stalk
when it is from four to ten inches high, and
cover it over with the mould as soon as
practicable.
Frost cotton seed should never be used,
because the greater part of them will
sprOut, and the manuring quality will be de-
stroYed. 1t is only the oil which this kind
of manure possesses that makes ii immedi-
ately valuable. Besides, when they come
up in a great mass they open the earth
about the Plant SO as to admit the air, which
dries it too much about the corn roots.
All plants contain certain saline or aka
line ingredients, known to science as inor-
ganic elements. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that cotton seed would carry to the
earth more Of the elements of the cotton
plant than any other vegetable manure.
Hence we have been much disposed to try
cotton seed as a manure for cotton, but
have been deferred from it 10 this sec,ifer.
ous age.
Now, gentlemen, you have our mite, and
il it is not the best the writer can do. It is
50 near il he would most unwilling labor
upon the subject again, though il should in
'eEest "GU the iDOrld and the restof man.