The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1852-03-24
@g9Aa 990H0alY,
From she Gold.bosoush Telegraph.

Der every land"
Prom The Goldsboroush Telegraph.
PROFESSOR EAM0Ns's LECTURES.
Prof. Emmons delivered Lectures to
the citizens Of this place on Friday and
Saturday evenings last. They were
interesting. the latter especisllyso. OF
this. considering the important nature
Of the subject, Agricultural Chemistry,
we will endeavor to give briefsynop-
sis.
The Professor began BY recapitula-
ting his lecture Of the previous even
ing. He had there stated that constant
cropping, where the products were re-
moved from the soil and no returns
made, would result in its inevitable im-
poyerishment and final exhaustion.-
This is clearly seen not only from ex-
perience, but from consideration Of the
nature aud composition Of soils. Soils
are composed Of variety Of elements,
some in large, some in small proper
tons. The former, such silex or
sand. and alumina or clay, are compare
lively valueless, their principal purpose
being to give texture. consistency and
substance to the soil. Sand but seldom
and clay never enters into the compost
tion Of either plants or animals. But
on the other hand, those elements
which are found in small quantities,
such as the phosphates, soda, magne.
STA, potash, lime, &C., are absolutely es-
senfiai to the plants upon which men
and other animals subsist. The seed,
and leaf, bone and nerves, blood and
brain, all contain these elements. Eve
ry crop that grows takes up a portion
Of one or more Of these essential ele-
ments; since they exist in small quanii-
ties they must Of course be sooner or
later entirely consumed, and when this
takes place. the plant. since they are es-
sential to its composition, necessarily re-
fuses to grow. The system ofcropping
and resiing merely postpones this inev-
table result. By resting the soil moth
ing is added thereto. The only effect
is, tina. by the action Of the atmosphere
and other causes, its elements are
brought into condition in which they
can be more readily absorbed. If, for
instance, silex should be combined with
any Of the essentials, it would be disu-
nited by the action Of the atmosphere,
and the essential would be ready to be
taken up by the roots Of the plant
This process then, instead OF prevent
ing exhaustion, only secures its more
complete development in the end.-
Then comes the question, the subject Of
the present lecture, How are soils to be
regenerated and preserved? The sys-
TEN Of green crops. as for instance
clover, buckwheat and peas, does not ef-
feet this. The roots of these plants,
especially the first mentioned. strike
deep into the earth. and thereby bring
certain elements up to the surface and
within reach Of the roots Of plants, such
as wheat, &c., which only penetrate the
surface. But they do not add any Of
the expensive elements, as potash, &c.
Gypsum, (plaster Of Paris is sometimes
sowed with clover. This is good as fal
as it goes. since it adds sulphuric acid
and lime, the latter Of which is an "ex.
pensive" element, while the former fur
nishes sulphur to certain constituents
Of plants, such as gluten. The farm
ers Of Western New York use thi,
method in the cultivation Of wheat, ane
) maintain that nothing further is neces
!. sary, that by means Of it the soil viii
always remain fertile. Fortunately fo
them their soil is exceedingly.rich, an,
as yet they do not, perhaps for Ion,
time will not discover any injurious el
fects. But in England, where the sam
: system is pursued, the land has becom,
in some places, what the farmers cal
"clover sick" Butitis really sick fror
= exhaustion, since phosphoric acid an
> soda have been constantly taken ava
without any return.
Buckwheat, which as above stated
has been used like clover as fertilizel
farmers formerly thought would gro
: well anywhere upon any kind Of sol
) : This proved to be a mistake, since
centained a large proportion Of the "e,
pensive" elements, and for this reason
: is well used, since the roots, BY strick
: ing deep. bring up for the use of otht
plants, elements which their roo,
$ would not otherwise have reached.
y Clover might be successfully intod'
'e ced into this county. Major Collie
" had succeeded we'll in its cultivation b
y ! means of the mari found in large quar-
:. titles upon his estate. Oats might
nsed with clover, in order to protect
;, from the wind and cold.