Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-14
Agricultural.
For the Journal.
Jackson, n. c.. March Sd, 1851.

JACKSON. n. G.. March 3D. 1851.
MEssRs EDIToRs-You knew am agent fer an
agricultural warehouse and an agricultural journal
NV business leads me to an acquaintance with ma
ny facts relative to improvement in the farming de-
partment which, were other ways employed,
might not observe.
And now, having an hour to devote to writing,
purpose to say something of the improvement going
on in Edgecombe county, which place visited last
week. and if it affords you your readers no inter-
est shall have the satisfaction of passing compli-
ment upon those worthy gentlemen who have SO
distinguished themselves by their skill in retaining
their swampy as we'll as by making fertile their
worn out lands.
When tell you that, notwithstanding the unfa-
vorableness of the last season. $50 bales of Cotton
were produced on ground that few years since gave
but 40 bales. you will probably ask, how by what
means has so vast an increase been secured To
solve this question: requires not the philosophers
skill. 1t has been accomplished by judicious use
of those very materials which abound in all parts of
this country, and which have hitherto been neglect
ed or considered worthless.
Imagine to yourself from 10000 to % 900 loads of
excellent manure, prepared by mixing ditch banks
(Which, by the by, injurious as ditch banks but
in their chemical arrangement contain many of those
properties which are imperiously necessary to the
growth of 5egetation) cotton seeds, &C., together
10000 25, 900 loads of marl in heaps at suitable
distances from each other to cover when spread an
entire field, and you will imagine only what saw.
On another plantation, where mari has not yet
been discovered to any extent, you may see thou
sands of loads of manure, made in cattle yards by
carting earth and vegetable materials upon which
cattle have been kept, These too, are all compost
ed to prevent the escape of any of their fertilzing
properties On other parts of this field you may see
long rows of compost heaps, made by mixing the
filth and sediment of bitches with ditch banks cot
ton seeds, &C. Then cast your eyes upon those 1000
barrels Of Lime, 100 bbls of Plaster Paris and 500
bbls of Ashes, and the matter to- you will be no Ion
ger secret.
Now let us take a turn Or two upon another plan
tation, some IA miles from those just noticed
See those almost numberless heaps of composted
ditch banks, and those 5000 bushels of ashes Do
you wonder at the productiyeness of lands thus
treated
Let me say now, lest forget, this vast quantity of
ashes was made upon the several farms where they
now are. But you say, vast quantity of wood must
have been consumed to make so many ashes. say
so too. I also say it was decaying wood, that was
good for nothing eise and such suppose goes to
decay every year even in your own county, at loss
of thousands Of dollars per annum
Just invite of the farmers down in the vicni-
ty of Wilmington, or any other vicinity in North
Carolina, to make visit to this getting to be gar
den county, and perhaps they will be induced to ego
and do ikewise.n If So in few years we may hope
that manifest change in respect to decayng wood,
and the ten thousand materials for enriching the
lands of North Carolina, will take place.
How much territory that is denominated & old
fields" will be productive and instead of being tax
upon their owners will be source of gain
You may think [ exaggerate tut examine for
yourself and verify believe you'll say =; the half
had not been told me-
I am gratfed at the prospect that other counties
are waking up to the Importance of agricultural i'm
provement When find any of them treading close
upon Edgecombe, you may hear from again.
question here may not be out of place. What
gave the first impulse to this movement in Edge
combe? An agricultural paper. gentleman told
me few years since there none taken in the
county he was the first subscriber to one, and the
first to interest his friends in favor of agricultural
reading. Now there about three hundred sub
scrbers to agricultural papers in Edgecombe county
Yours respectfully A. SHERMAN