Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-07-14

The liberal offer of the "Maryland State
Agricultural Society,"" for the "best essay
on the comparative value of the differen,
manures, founded upon actual experiment"
has no doubt awakened spirit Of emula-
ton among Farmers, and will bring forth
to the public an account Of the experiments
which they have been so anxiously and
carefully practising for several years past,
with view to the improvement! of their
worn out land.
|, is not nv design on this OCCASION, TO
introduce any new theory, supported by
novel experiments; but shall attempt 10
compile and arrange my various plans and
experiments, in such manner as to make
them striking and illustrative of the bene-
fits received, and 10 corroborate those who
have proceeded in this noble cause. Al
ready have the essaysoG STABLER and 9TH
ers, given an impetus to the improvement
Of soils, which has placed them high in the
estimation Of the farming community, and
will cause their names long to be cherished
bv this benefited class. Nor can | fail to
mention the great advantage that has been
given TO that community by EDMUND RUF
FIN, the pioneer in the cause Of the improv-
-edd-aa.iculture in Virginia. the truths of
whose writings and practical experiments
have so eminently rewarded the agricul
turist.
The anxious desire Of the Maryland State
Agricultural Society for the diffusion Of
practical knowledge, and of rendering itself
useful, has placed j, high in the estimation
Of the farmers throughout the Union, and
commands for it an unprecedented respect.
Nothing is more calculated to give SO grea,
an impetus 10 that spirit of improvement,
which is now abroad in the land, than the
annual meetings of this society where the
agricultursts of the different sections of the
country are assembled-whe,e an inter
change Of views and plans are discussed or
weighed, and where The practical results of
land and labor are brought together in CON-
petition.
Although my experiments with the differ
ent manures have no. been as extensive as
] would have wished, yet so fully have
been convinced of the great benefits
have received, that al the risk of being
considered but "nouice" in the science
of agriculture, ! have determined to give
them.
Lime.-I shall commence with Lime,
which regard as the basis Of all permanent
improvement, the most important element
towards the improvement of the worn-out
lands, and without which, in some form, all
attempts TO resuscitate them will be vain
and fruitless. From various experiments
have made with different kinds Of lime,
have become convinced that shell lime is
the most valuable and efficacious. The su-
perior fertilizng qualities of she'll lime, is in
part attributable to the phosphorus contain
ed in the shell. have also applied stone lime
from New York and Baltimore, and can
with certainty say, the Baltimore surpasses
that from New York +; our soil contains
msgnesia, and on that account The alum
stone lime acts more promptly than the
magnetism lines of Pennsy lvania and New
York.
The properties of Lime-The properties
Of lime have been so often described and
written upon, that it would be unnecessa-
ry for me to occupy much time and space
in going into detail but so necessary is
it, for all to understand some Of them, tha,
cline upon line" cannot be too often re-
peated.
We know lime to be an essential ele-
ment of all productive soils, and upon lis
presence in manner depends ell impr ove-
ment; so powerfully has it acted upon our
acid soils, sbounding in sorrel grass, that its
application can with great distinctness be
traced in the first crops. "In correcting
the acidily of our soils, and decomposing
the poisonous metallic salls,'' it has acted
most bene6cially. Lime renders our soils
which seem to be packed and close with a
scan.y supply of grass, much more pulve-
rous and easy to be cultivated; giving a
life like appearance, and renders the cult