Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-08-09


an AGENT of Improvement If we were asked what
those other Offices are? reply would be,--that
lime improves the quality of the crops, especially
those of the breastuh kinds; that when not apphed
in excess it accelerates decomposition III all animal
and vegetable substances that it destroys insects
and worms by its contact; discourages the growth
of weeds by promoting that of the grasses; neutral
ICES the free acids in the soil that under favora
BILE concurrence of mould, moisture and heat, it in
duces the formation of ntrates that it cOnduces to
health imparts warmth to the soil; increases its
power ofabsorption to render stiff soils friable
and gives consistency to sandy ones thatlt promotes
bv its electric force fermentation and ultimate decay
in inert matters causing carbonic acid to be evolved
and heterogeneous gases to be disengaged thereby
yerting that which was before unavailable, into
tive of vegetable nutriment. Thus then, it
obvious that if Lime is not, OF ITSELF actually food
for vegetabes-and we believe it is for it is found
to be a constituent element in the structures and
fruits of almost every tree, herb and vegetable that
grows-it operates as an efficient agent, IN the pro-
curement and preparation Of their food. 1t grasps
with msers hold the uncongenial acids of the SOIL
retains them in possession, until it predsposes and
prepares them to become the food of plants it also
lets free certain of the salts rendering them tributa
ry to the wants of vegetation Therefore, Lime, in
this connection, may be viewed as the caterer well
as the cook, of the whole vegetable family; but we
go farther,-we believe it to be a most important
and healthful ingredient in the dishes, which it SO
notably provides and up for if it were not
essential constituent, its presence in vegetable pro-
ducts, would not be nVarlable as 1t Is, as nature
does not eectuate her works by accidents and blum
ders: but in accordance with the fixed, unerring and
immutable laws of Providence.
f. That notwithstanding all the advantages which
deep ploughing, and lining, calculated to ensure,
their full benefits can only be realized, where due
attention is paid to the application of animal and
vegetable manures-where judicious system,
proper rotation ofcrops is practsed and the culture
of coUer, and the grasses forms an element IN such
system-as Lime must be furnished Nth the raw ma
fbo{ Of nIn -ondf of
where the climate may not allow of the cultivation
of clover and the grasses, crop of peas buckwheat
beans, other green crop, must be grown, and
ploughed in, every third or fourth year
By the culture of clover, besides securing large
body of vegetable matter to be turned in, at the
commencement of every rotation, thereby adding an
important quantity to the materials for forming and
supplying mould to the surface SOIL and of increasing
its powers of absorption for those powers bear just
relation to the amount of such decompOsed and de-
composing matters may exist thereln,-you will
increase the quantities of maneral salts also The
tap-rOots of clover plants descend into the earth
era feet, where they find deposits of these salts alb
sorb and assimate them In their structures, and,
a consequence, bring them up to be mingled with
the surface SOIL when, in the of rotation, it
may be ploughed up; thus rendering available to
subsequent culture ingredients essential to vegeta
ton which had before been locked up in the subso
And it is, therefore, obvious, that the deeper you
may plough the greater will be the quantities of
such substances restored to the surface soil In this
light the culture of clover may be said not only to
furnish vegetable food but mineral food also and
hence its great Importance, in every system which
looks to the permanent improvement, and to the full
development of the productive capacities of the
earth.
| In addition to the foregoing, we would remark,
that the sub-son plough may be used as a valuable
auxiliary means, in deepening all soils that may need
it. If such sells were subsoled year in advance of
the operation of increasing their depth, two benefits
would result and wOuld he q
in upon the subsol and, to very considerable ex-
tent, tend by their chemical action and reaction, to
neutralize its salts while at the same time, the per-
collation. of the water through the ea~th each succee-
ding rain, would carry large portions of them off,
that the succeeding year, when part of the sub
soil shall be added to the surface soil it will be found
that it contains much less of those injurious oxzed
matters, which have hitherto operated to prevent
deep ploughng from being popular as it ought to
be. We feel very certain that if this plan of sub
soil ploughing were adopted precedent process,
much less lime, ashes marl would be required as
correcting agents, there would be greatly redu-
ced quantity of unfriendly salts to be acted upon
/ Notwithstanding all that we have said in favor of
deep ploughng, of draining, and of subsoiling
withstandng all that have written in favor of the
virtues of lime, marl and ashes, meorators of the
SOIL and food for plants directly and indirectly
notwithstanding views to the culture of clio
yer the grasses and green crops, and we have said
nothing on either head that do not feel to be JUS
tilted by our experience and observation,we desire
!.
each and all of these may be- that he must not tho
he adopt all of them relax, for single moment in
the accumulation and preservation of every material
on his farm, that is, or can, by decomposition, be
converted into manure, and when accumulated, to
apply it to his felds-for after all that the authors
of fne-drawn, fancfu theories and hypothesis, may
say to the contrary, the earth is the great manufc
tory in which the food of plants must be mainly pre-
pared the atmosphere, the dew and the rain, are
each charged with the elements Of fertilization they
each, in their turn, dispense those elements to the
crops of the field, and contribute largely to their
growth and qualification; but still the earth is the
great laboratory, where those manipulations
ried on which ultimately ensure to the husbandman
the reward of his abors Let him, then, give to the
earth the raw material suitable for the process and
will convert into mould and not only feed the plants
which he may commit to its charge with the viands
of the SOIL but husband and appropriate those also
which are to be found in the air, in the dew and in
the rain, to their growth and perfection. If such
were not the fact the barren sand would be pro-
ductive the most fertile mould. fact which is
tradcted by the experience ofevery cultivaor in the
world. Providence, in his wisdom and munifcence
has ordained that the elements shall contribute thei
share towards clothing the earth with verdure but h
has left it to by the proper exercise of his
and energies, to the means placed at his dis
posal that the soil may be preserved in its virgin
power strength and fertility,-and that only b.
. done by periodical and generous manuring-by re
turing to the earth equivalent for its bountifu
contributions towards the support of the human fam
! lily.
q Tailors Replacing Dukes.
r The famous " Pavilion of Hanover in Paris
small palace built by the Duke of Richelieu on hi
) return from his HanOverian campaign-is, at Dre