Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-04-28

{ the farmer at this time, is the discovery IN
nd use of those fertilizers which will, in the mo-
most efficient and least expensive way, sup WI
,ly those constituents which enter into the -
plant he may wish to cultivate, and which
are wanting in the soil which he designs for
growth. Here arises at once the question, -
how can this be done ? What is the first
step to be taken =? The answer is this Let
tie soil be analysed, and ascertain at once al
what is wanting in the soil which the plant 7
requires for its growth. This is highly I'M i
portant, for the reason that without this +
knowledge, the farmer may go TO work and l
gather, at a great deal ofunnecessary trouble C
and expense, a large quantity OF manure,
which, when accumulated, may not contain +
to a sufficient extent those elements which 2
are wanting in the soil. Those farmers who
arc uneducated, and who have not seen prac-
teal illustrations of this fact, may be dispo-
sed not to attach that weight to the subject
which it deserves. They may say that they
can, with the common barn-yard manure,
make their land highly fertile !; but why is
this the case For the plain reason that
this manure contains all the constituents re-
quired for the growth of plants. But this
barn-yard manure is, strictly speaking, the
very crops themselves, which, after loosing
to a great degree their strength in the nour-
lishment of animals, are then to be used for
the reproduction of the same crops during
the succeeding year. We are a strong adj
vocate for the use of barn-yard manure, but
in many instances a man may be a lifetime
in supplying his soil with that or those con-
%stituents which may be wanting by its use,
, when, with an analysis of his soil, he might
+" -rl IL - rnrharc third of the
expense.
The perfect soil consists Of fourteen ele-
ments, a part of which are inorganic or veg
etable. Those minerals which enter most
largely into the formation of soils, are lime,
slick or sand, alumina or clay. Slick and
" alumlna are rather the basis of sand and clay
than the minerals themselves. Lime, of al
nv other minerals, is most required in the sol
to produce vegetables to any degree of per
lection, and is most sought for by the prac
teal agriculturist. 1t is, in truth, the ba
;, sis of all good hushandry,' and the founda
'u' ton of all permanent improvement. Whel
properly applied, it rarely fails to meet tn,
w expectations ofthe farmer but when misap
piled, it only produces disappointment.
ish If the soil upon which we purpose to US
lime is already highly calcareous, it woul
be evident to the practical farmer that it
VIII use would only serve as a poison to plants
and if there does not exist much vegetabl
matter in the soil for its action, it should b
used only in a small quantity. Lime SUI
plies a kind of inorganic food for plant
which appears to be necessary for their hea
ave thy growth. 1t neutralizes acid substance
which are naturally formed in the soil, an
- decomposes or renders harmless other noz
i"' Gus compounds which are not unfrequentl
). within the reach OF the roots of plants.
causes, facilitates and enables other usef
compounds, both organic and inorganic,
be produced in the soil, or SO promotes Il
decomposition of existing compounds, as
10" prepare them more speedily for entering i
to the circulation of plants Lime may
used upon newly-cleared fields as we'll as
,oJd those worn out. Indeed, we have been i
formed by Mr.. Josiah Collins, a very exte
cart sive and highly educated farmer in Was
ington county, in this State, that he us
lime upon his newly-cleared lands, which b
the effect to neutralize the vegetable aci
which prevail in new lands that have r
been long drained, This gentleman h
succeeded, by the use of lime, in reclaim
-, a portion of savannah land which was thong
i by those who knew it to be almost vall
less.
Our farmers now are beginning to lea
that there are correct principles by VIII
they are to be guided in its application.
ishiP Sand, though really non-productive alo
is highly necessary in the soil to the lu.
RANT growth of plants. 1t enters lare
into the formation of the stalk of the vari
grain crops, and when it is wanting t
IS, great extent, the stalks, particularly Of
various snail grain crops, are weak and u
BILE to support the ear, and consequer
lodge and are difficult to reap. Where
.. soil is principally clay, it is found to be
tenacious, and it becomes necessary to
in sand with it, which will greatly incre
the product, besides rendering the land
difficult to cultivate. Clay does not Ell
cheer, as a constituent in plants, but it is essenti
necessary in the soil, in order to rende
> sufficiently compact and tenacious as t.
adapted to the growth of plants. The
we0n naming minerals and the phosphates
r alkelies, which are really important to
y growth of plants, and when deficient
easily be supplied. Vegetable mould is
natural manure of the the soil and all exh
ted and worn out lands are deficient of
a great extent but it may be easily
piled by r%esorting to the swamps and b
and to the woods. BY a proper use oil
ashes, salt, soda, hone-dust, muck and W
mould, the farmer need not have exhau
fields for by a proper combination of IL
as each is required, be can soon have
land in a more fertile condition than
,GE OF haps it was in its primitive state.
cult From what we have already said, we
zen of sure that every thinking and reading ia