The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1852-03-24

tttu " HtaHttht<s WIN thS <'s<e "
litter and barn-ysrd manure. all were
we'll acquainted. IL would be unneces.
szry TO speak Of them- The excre-
ments Of fowls add both the expensive
and nitrogenous elements to the soil.
This substance. mixed with six times
its weight ofgypsum. constitutes one Of
the best manures. He had known II
used by = farmer upon fifteen or SIX
teen acres. with very great success. II
however must not touch the grain. II
may be deposited in the hill beneath
the grain, with thin iayer Of earth in
tervening.
The fluid and solid excrements Of
men, particularly the former. also con-
stitute most excellent fertilizer. The
iluid should by all means be preserved.
especially upon large plantations where
the slaves are numerous. A hogshead
or reservoir Of some kind should be kept
for its reception. Itcould be carried in
q tank upon low cart over the fields,
and spread over them broadcast, just as
water is spread over the street Of cities.
Or the. hogshead might be carried upon
the cart. and might be perforated with
numerous holes closed by pegs, until the
field designed to be enriched was reach
ed, when they could be drawn out
This system had been pursued with
great success.
There is an inexhaust,ble supply Of
muck, or peat, which is muck in an adj
vanced stageiof..decomposition, in the
swamps and marshes Of this region
But it requires some preparation in or.
der to become a fertilizer. II should
be taken while fresh and moist, and
mixed with little lime. II should be
kept wet, and then by being exposed IA
the alterations Of heat and cold, by
freezing and thawing. il will eventually J
crumble, be reduced to a powder, and
become fit for use.
Saltpetre is not a good fertilizer for
plants used as food. Ii does we'll where
the stem or leaf is sought to be increas.
ed, as in the case Of hay and fodder,
but will not assist the grain or seed.
Common salt is not SO good fertili.
zer as is generally supposed. Wheat
and other cereal plants do not require
chlorine or sodium, the elements oi
which salt is composed, but rather pot
ash.
There is a variety of marls in thi.
region Of country, and along the Caps
Fear, and this substance may be found
to greater or less extent, from Long
Island to Alabama. The most recent
formation, or that which is found frs
upon digging, is the shell or stone mari
The only difference between these two
is, that IN the former, the shells are in I
state Of preservation, in the latter. they
have been decomposed and consolidated
into stone. The latter is the better
since having been decomposed, it is tht
more ready to enter into the compost.
tion of plants. 1t has the appearance
of reddish clay, is apt to be consider
ed such by the farmer, and SO to b,
neglected by him. But that it is mari
may be easily shown by pouring sui
phuric acid, common vinegar, or any o
the acids upon it. 1t will be found t,
effervesce. (The Professor here produ
ced a piece Of this mari and made tn
experiment.) Underneath this shei
and stone mari, lies marly clay, an,
beneath this the green sand" marl.-
This last substance does not efervesc
upon the application Of sulphuric acid
because it contains no lime. Notwith
standing its name, it is rather blue tha
green. and somewhat resembles blu
ish clay. This substance is general
used in New Jersey. In that Stat
many plantations had been reduced I
state ofalmost perfect barrenness. an
many farmers were about to leave
Luckily this "green sand" mari wa
discoved and applied, and the ono
sterile fields now support luxuriou
and profitable vegetation. Mari require
preparation before it is used. 1t shoul
! be mingled with organic matter, sue
as leaves or barn-yard manure, in alte
J nate layers, and the heap thus forme
should occasionally, every three
four weeks, be stirred up with a show
or spade.
! Bones are probably the best Of a
: , fertilizers. They pay for them in En-
! land FIVE or six pounds sterling per to
J and for fossil bones, which are less va
liable. two pounds ten shillings. En-
!, land has made double use Of her 81
:, diers who fell at Waterloo. She sse
them FIRST to fight her battles, afterwar,
!. their bones to fertilize her soil. Tl
I site Of that batde has never since be-
!. brought into cultivation, butts cover
II with wild, rank and luxurious veget
: tion. Bones must be ground for us
= the fner the better the immediate !
$ ssits. They may be scattered bro'
cast over the soil, but the mere usu
! way is to dissolve them in oil Of vitri
= q water, and then mix them with ms
y or ashes. Bone beds are sometim
/ found in mari beds, and Of course a,
e greatly to their value. The princiT
u use OF bones is to give phosphoric &C
Ito the soil.