The southerner., 1852-10-23

supplied, do you expect you would produce !.
perfect vegeta BILE IN all its parts? Certainly you
do not If your soil contains sufficiency OF
the phosphate OF lime to complete the stalk in
luxurlaut growth, in union with the other ne
cessary ingredients; and that it shall then be-
come deficient, or wanting in the soil, to the
degree of not maturing the seed and wool, is it
not reasonable to suppose that you may have an
early thrifty plant which will not bear, or pro-
duce the cotton wool, the true object in view of
its growth!
1t is fact we'll known to practical farmers
that some vegetables will obtain better growth
in some soils than others. There is no doubt,
you have often heard the remark made in your
intercourse with your neghbors that they had dis
covered by experiment, they could produce some
articles, on their lands, better than others.
Some cannot grow wheat, some, cotton, some
potatoes. Some Will say they can produce a
beautiful cotton weed but it will bear but little
cotton. Now whenever you hear these COM
plants offered, You may very correctly concl lude
that the soil is deficient in the inorganic matter
which the vegetable needs, and that all attempts
to grow the vegetable upon such soil, without
first rcnoyating it with the required elements, is
but to cndeayor to obtain an effect without a
proper cause. When we cast our observation
over the animal kingdom, we discover that eve
ry genus and even every species has an cxter-
nal appearance and organization peculiar to It.
self: if we extend our observation still further
we discover that each race has some popularity
in its mode of feeding; some delight in one kind
of feed, and others in other kinds: and that
Il I .Al, ofI
suit of that diet in which they most delight. Ii
He, in contrast, examine the vegetable kingdom
we discover likewise the same great difference
in external appearances, and organized struc-
ture, as compared one with the other: but if we
wish to extend our observation still further in
regard to their feed, which we cannot see, Oh
know any thing about, except from the effect on
result growing out of it, we are reduced to the
necessity, whenever we wish to grow them IL
greater perfection, to resort to analytical expert
ment, and inductvc reasoning, to discover thcil
wants, And deprived as they arc of the powe'
of locomotlon, if these wants are not within
their reach, it becomes the business OF the far
Mcr to furnish them.
| will venture an opinion, that there is not {
member of this society, who, if made acquainted
by chemical ana ysis, with the constituents o
his soil bass for his experimental opera
tlons, and wlth the benefit Of reading the aE5ri
cultural periodicals, and | assure you every lar
ner should take them, and read thcsa likewise
viii find much difficulty in growing his crop O
vegetables upon a proper soil. But this howey
er should not be wholly relied upon at first; yor
should have the ADVICE anl direction of on<
who Is sufficiently well acquainted, with the nu
tuaI action, and changes, produced IA comblnee
matter, by chemical forces.
There is much prejudice TO overcome IN al
new changos-pcople are reluctant to give III
old habits, and usages, ana te adopt new, or tt
them untried experiments. It IS indeed per
fection enough with sorse to know how their an
cesters worked, and to follow in their footsteps
but those gentlemen should bear ia mind, tina
their ancestors had control Of virgin lands
which were brought under tilage with an cx
pectation Of cxhausting them. And truly this
has been fully realized; for many soils, which
were originally fertile and productive, are nov
seen to grow only the pine bush and othe
growth peculiar to soils exhausted OF their lnor
ganic material.
;, This gentlemen is the age Of discovery; 1t l
the age Of peace, work, and progress. 10 stan'
still is to soon get behind the times. There ar
: now many worthy men directing their talent
to establish agriculture upon firm scientific .ba
sis; and why shall we not contribute our part
Edgccombc is far ahead of her neighbors IN cx
, perimental, and successful farming. She
! viewed as the bright star in the farming galar
of North Carolina by her sister countles-Ae
: modes ofculture are looked upon as proper sam
pies to guide their own-she has the stal
7 ahead, let her hold it. Let her course be Oh
ward and progressive in agricultural experiments
+ that her example may continue to be sought
and thought worthy Of imitation. Let he
. so shape her couse, that through all time
A come, she will be light and guide Marl
: plenty--ashes and charcoal can be had by tn
. labor of burning the wood, salt is cheap, organ
ic materials inexhaustible. If however by a
analysis of the soil anything is found wanting
it should be supplied. Let these expcrimen;
in farming be continued; but let them be dire.t
: ted by the lights of science. We do not live i
those primitive ages, when man relied upo
f the spontaneous production Of the earth for h
t support we do not live in the second age whlc
: relied only upon physical force in stirring tn
I Al -