Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-09-05
For the Journal.
I OE VIZ . U q Z EIH@H
TRuMBuLL, August Goth, 1851.

the 6 Old Dominion, from whence so recently ad-
dressed you, and again on my own domain in
Connecticut with those loved from whom, less
than three months since. tore myself away. Among
other old acquaintances here recognise few num-
bers of your excellent journal the only North Caro-
lima acquaintance with which have met for months
These altogether remind me that have been absent
and among strangers.
have passed the last two months among the Vlr-
ginians, and think am wiser than before. am
more thoroughly convinced than ever before that the
husbandman is rewarded in proportion to the talent
he displays in cultivating his soil.
In Virginia the drought has been severe, affecting
seriously the corn and tobacco crops. Where the
land had been subsoiled preparatory to planting
corn the crop has suffered infinitely less than where
the surface pillow only had been used | was not
little surprised to find the subsoiling system so little
in use among distinguished planters To deepen
and enrich the soil should be the principal object of
the farmer if he would increase the products of his
acres In order to effect both the deepening and en-
rching of the soil. | urge the subsoil system.
Let us look for a moment at few of the
By opening the subsoil the air is enabled to pene
trae deeper into the SOIL and by its action regulate
those acids which only administer poison to those
roots which are struggling for life by shooting deep
er into the bosom of the earth
When the subsoil is loosened, the young roots may
seek their support in new soil without danger to
health, as those accumulated acids correct
ed by the operation of the atmospheric influence up
on them.
The soil and subsol become mingled and the soil
deepened in proportion to the depth the subsoi pillow
has been made to penetrate the subsoil
An objector will say there no fertilizing pro-
pertes in the subsoil-but bark Has it not been
found in precisely the same manner of similar mate
rails as the soil
And what has been done to rob it of its pot
ash, lime &c! If there is animal or vegetable de-
composition constantly going in the soil and on
the surface, we may suppose that the ash or inor-
ganic substances in time will settle down. or By
rains, &c, be forced down upon the subsoil from
whence they are not brought into use until by plow
ing the acids of the subsoil are brought in contact
with the air. and those remnants of decomposition
are compelled to n,ingle with the soil. Another
benefit resulting from this mode of blowing should
be borne in mind. In seasons of drought the
moisture that may occasionally fall will penetrate
settle into the deepened soil and should there be
rains the roots will shoot down into the newly
formed soil, where evaporation has not reached, and
secure moisture sufficient to sustain them. Should
the season be extremely wet, the subsoling
substitute for UNDERMINING by letting the surplus
water sink below the young roots and pass off
Farmers! try the experiment. Its results may put
thousands in your pockets and should it fail it will
have cost you but little.
MIR. WIN. w. G1LMER, of Albemarle county, Va,
think. SUBSIDIZED all his ground, Is
and while fields in the vicinity WERE parched
up, and the promised scarcely half crop, his
gave evidence of plenty of rain and the 1st inst
varied in height from II to II feet.
On my way from Virginia passed through Mary
land, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. That portion
of Maryland through which my road lay is uninvi
ting being rocky hiy, and uncultivaed- but this
gave no evidence of the quality of Maryland lands
Along the main roads, the land Immediately
upon the roads, there appears to be less interest ia
ken than upon the rear lands.
after crossing the Susquehanna, the appearance
of the country is mere inviting buildings are bet
ter-farms cultivated with more care-and thus TIN
traveller bound for New York is cheered his lone
ly journey by graduation of improvement as he ad
vances toward New York until he enters New Jer
scy, where in my belief farming is systematicall
and proftably conducted in any other State. New
York farmers may boast of their rich, alluval soils
their nayigable streams internal improvements. mar
kess, &c, yet in point of skill in making lands pro
duce, they are not in advance of the New Jerse
farmers.
am home again. You can scarcely imagine tn
difference of temperature, or the effect these pur
breezes have upon my physical organization whic
has been somewhat affected by Southern
Matters and things here appear about as they di
when last addressed you from this place.
You would naturally conclude that by this time
had been satisfied with travelling. Indeed have
and yet notice, learn, has gone out that I am
spend portion of the coming year in Virginia an
North Carolina | know not where would rattle
go anticipate the pleasure of a visit to your cit
where hope to add to my list of valuable acquair
tances.
would bespenk the influence of your journal an
all Others that take any interest in matters of agr
culture, that may succeed in my mission, and
far wiser, farmer, at my return North, than al
now. Yours respectfully,
A. SHERMAN.
In vault Immediately under the altar in II
beautiful church at Hythe, Kent, Eng, is in
mense pile of human bones and skulls, which mea
ures twenty-seven feet in length six feet in bread
and seven in height. They absurdly sal
to be the remains of the Danes and Britnns XII