The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-10-18
o Fo,m As Rar Eagifad Faraisr.
FRHTILizING INFLUENCE or THE
ATMOSPHERIC,


Mn Enron '- Farmers ap Indebted, IN q
great measure % atmospheric Influences, 10
restoring thar land 70 fertility The esniin-
ned Gro piping n land will reduce il % .steri-
~, unless a constant stimulus be kept up by
the application 81 manure nor does II appear
that manure oi.itsolf will prove substitute
inr particular feulizing elements derived
from the air, Our knowledge Of making ma
nurc i % limited that We arc dependent up
90 the atmosphere 10 supply the deficiency,
which our chemical knowledge Is not adequate
20 perform 10 rompnsting our dung hoaIs.-
IL il known % every experienced farmer, that
his land viii improve ou having rest from 'ex-
hnustipF crops over stimulating produces pre-
mature decay and land like the animal or
.ycgsiable, stimulated 20 e1oess, will preniA-
turciy eNhsust itself aud fall into decay
The isrtillzing qualities derived from the At
mosphere arc not sent down in sudden show
ers,bui the process Is gradual one whether
these fprtilizers descend IN tho rain, frost
fDow or proceed from the winds, or are bless,
ings nnseon, which drought produces, Is a
question shall not attempt 20 answer
Tho land must have rest NJ stated periods
H. this time Of rest, the air II administering
~ r,stonuyos, la n TINA Of drought the
land l. unproduc,iyc, and consequently 10 d
state Of rest II was said by an ancient farm
co.. that dry scasouH would enrich HE land
,bua 10 a good mnnuring. b. that ~ II may
after succession Of a few dry seasons, and
on the retnrn of n few rainyones,l have seen
the grass revive and grow on lands which
previously had been almost barren producing
Gna. crops Of a good quality without the aid Of
manure, In the twouty-6Nh chapter Of Ie-
yiticus, we Gnd these directions from God
itmzrtt ~ ,-l,,!.lsSa- ai Lsrnc ISIS year.
thou shalt SOW tbs" field, and six years thou
shalt pruno thy vineyard but the seventh
wear shall be a Sabbath ofrest unto the land
thou shalt neither SOW thy field nor pruno
thy vineyard aud the Sabbath Of the land
shall be meat for YOU intimAting that there
should be great increase, Ills not probable
that God would have given these directions
"a the children OF Israel, but for wise purpos'
~. In this year Of rest, the land was recciy-
ing supply Of atmospheric influences
Mliuh tehltU 10 ltEAlllAh lht hHll ~ N'''H
posing vegetable matter, ordistrbutiug their
iupcrcepliblc fertilizers. IL is 10 be- wished
that there could be some method contrivod "
enrich cur land, less tedious and expensive
Than the noyorending aud back-breaking
process OF composing manure.
Psychologists tell Us that vegetables derive
considerable portion Of their nutrimeni
from the air, Tho blowing in of grass cBsPs
would render the ground no benefit, e the
nutrimcnr which supplies tho green crops was
al. derived from the earth, as the earth can
restore nothing but is own, Tho samo pro
life principle, supplied from the air which
nourishes the growing plant fcrtilizes the
earth IN its Sabbath OF rost. / have an idea
that the nutritvc gaSos which escape from
manure into the air, descend again to the
earth, on meeting a eondcnsing agent, and
assist in the growth Of vegetables, as well
.uy frrtifizu the iiii-ifiir nc utupyptcrc ~ i
magnificent chemical laboratory, whore aflin'
tiles, attractions and combinations take place
Whatever this fertilizer may bo,--whcthei
nitrc, ammoniaor some other Agont,-we ar,
much indebted to il for assistingus in making
our fields more productive.