Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-02-18
co M nj u MIC A II 0 n S /.
For the Times

Opinions and Reflections as to the Geologl-
cal Charcier of this Coun'y-itS Forna-
tion and Structure-its Susceptibility OF
improvement. and Capabilities OF Produc-
tion-avuh some Suggestions as to the
Means and advantages acilhin our reach
During the inclement weather which has
confined every person to the house, have
thrown together few thoughts and reaec-
,ions upon the Geology of this part of the
State, the subjec, Of Agricultural Chemistry,
and its application to the improvement Of
our lands, the kinds and qualities Of the ma
nures bes, adapted to resuscitate those which
have been impoverished by improvidenl and
iniudlcious culture, and the course of hus-
bandry which in my judgmen, might be pur-
sued with manifest advantage. 1t may be,
and most probably is, :ha. no one of the
suggestions which have occurred TO me are
new 10 most Of your readers or 10 our ag-
riculturals,s. For there are few thoughts, if
any, Of the human mind, which have not
crossed the 'sminds path" Of some other per-
son-and We have the authority Of a very
wise man "hat there is nothing new under
the SUM-" But others may not have thought
on this subject with The same view and pur-
pose as my self, and will give you the re-
suits Of my desultory thoughts, which you
may give to your readers, if you think they
contain any fact or opinion or theory which
NAV aid others in their researches, or benefit
them in their agricultural experiments.
fessed Geologist-and therefore ask to be-
speak due allowance for opinions which
may entertain upon the one subject, which
may seem TO be at variance with those which
have been expressed by men professionally
skilled-and for theories which may have
formed upon the other, which differ with
the generally received opinions of chemical
analysis and combinations, as affecting the
action Of fer.ilizing ingredients.
The science Of Chemistry and Geology
have not long emerged from state of in-
fancy, and that Of Geology has undergone
SO many changes, and the names and terms,
as well as the laws, now received as appli
cable to the ear,h's formation and its sub
sequen. changes, have so altered or assumed
new classifca,ions, that what ] once was
taught as orthodox truths seem to be ex-
ploded by the advance Of fscience-or a, least
names have so changed, other classi6calons
formed, and new laws promulged, by which
geologists profess TO compute the different
periods of the ear,h's formation, its stratifi-
cation and changes, that find all my old
lessons are to be laid aside and new rules
and principles substituted in their place
But there are some geological truths and
principles which cannot change,-because
they are founded upon, and are in conso-
nance with, the Mosaic account OF the earlh's
formation, the truth Of " hich no sane man
q, this day will doubt.
But the advances which have been made
in geological science, the new and different
classifca.ions and names, do not affect the
principles which are important to be con-
sidered as necessary to proper application
Of the principles of chemical analysis and
combination, which must be understood and
observed TO enable US to supply those pro-
per,ies of which the earth has been deprived
by improper culture, or which are requisite
to the production Of crops different from
those 10 which the soil may have been a.
dap,ed in its virgin state. Science has done,
and is yet doing much for the cause of Ag-
rculture, and by its ligh. and aid, and by tha
alone can lands, originally fertile and now
impoverished, be resIored-os those which
were never rich be brough! to state Of re-
mpnerating fertility. Its a principle as pal.
pable to common sense as j, is in accordance
with the laws of science, tina. the earth will