Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-11-08

/ first annual address on this OCCASION. Tho Con
stitution Of our Society presoribes the subjects a
this address, and limits them 10 praetical agrcul-
i lure or science auxiliary 10 agriculture. II i
TO me source Of sincere regret that the task
was not devoyed upon a more competent person.
But it not for mo Ia eYadc thu duties IL III
yolYed, nor shun the responsibility II imposed
TO shrink from the post which they have assigned,
and 10 display lukewarm zeal IN this noble ef-
fort to promote the prosperity Of onr State by ad-
vaneng it. agricultural interest 1mpelied by
/ high sense Of professional and public duty, and
| by that consideration alone, ! may justly claim
! the indulgence Of the Society for its imperfect
I discharge.
The extent Of our territory and it, developed
resources present their difficulties at the first
view. Our State stretches from the Ocean on the
/ East. to the tributaries of the Mississippi on the
! West embracing the Atlantic slope, the inter
mediate valley, aud passing the Aleghanics it
/ spreads upon the valleys Of the western water,
/ containing the great elements of national wealth
/ in its mineral treasures, manufacturing power,
/ outlets for commerce, diversity Of soil, and its
/ capacity for varied agricultural products. 1t
/ combines the leading divisions OF agriculture in
/ farming, planting aud grazing
With this extensive territory aud variety Of
soils, we are commencing an era oi improved ag-
riculturc. Upon the fertility of the soil depends
our saeccss-und upon the constituent elements
Of the soil restsit- fertility. 4 knowledge Of the
general origin and composition ot the soil must
form the first foundation which 10 build. But
here science has not shed il light upon our path
way. No geological report. with accompanying
maps of surveys Of the Statc has been publish
ed in such form Ia be accessible 10 the farmers.
They not informed in regard to the general
formation and prevailing strata Of their own coun-
ties nor the probable origin Of their soils. The
soils of the Stntc have been but little studied aud
accurate analyses have moi developed the causes
of sterlltY IN extensive areas, embracing large
portions OF many counties
Our soils are formed from the dceomposed frag
mcnts of the rocks on which they lie, or Of other
rocks usually at no great distance. They con
sst very nearly of the samc substances as the
rocks themselves from which they are formed; aud
we may not expect any ingredient in large q0anti
ty, which the rocks themselves did not contain
Gcologi-ts hive given the names oi strotifed and
unstraticd 10 the leading and grand division of
those rocks. The rocks Of the second class diff
fer widely int their composition, and Will give rise
TO soils pHrtaking of their distinctive characteristic
les. Thus, the granite contains within it, leldspar
and mica, considerable quantities of potash and
soda, but there is scarccI any lime, and no phos
pilates beyond mere traces. Some varieties Of
granite do contain these substances in fair proper
tons, but tor the most purt there is very little Of
either Noron's Elements, 2UG. Soils formed
from their decomposition may contain potash or
soda, but We mn} with great certainty anticipate
deficiency OF lime and the phosphatcs. so, in
the samc leading division, some specimens of the
trap rock contain It proportion of lime, calculated
rs carbonate, equal 10 20 per cent, or one fifth of
their weight Prof. johnson, Edinburgh Quar-
tcrly journal Of Agriculture, p. l22, I'D
They contain icld-par also, from which potash is
dcrited-and soils produced from their dccom-
position viii be found more fertile than those Of
granite origin
The -tratlled rocks present the same differ
cnces OF composition they occupy various posi-
tOn~ and ncnatons to the curh's surface, but
their relative position to eaeh other Is ai,eayS The
sunni in trhatertr part Of The W0rtd they may be
found Noron's Elements 300. The same
differences will pcryadc the soils which exist in
the various strata. In this general observation,
however, we must except those districts where
disturbing Influences have operated to cover the
original rocks bv transported mute rials from some
other source. BY which the crumbled fragments
of other formations have been driftcd in vast
quantities IL some unknown power, and now
oyerlc tic original rocks. Even in this event,
an inspection of district by prachsed eye,
would Immediately detect any foreign deposits,
and determine their character Nortons Ele-
mcnts 2uG.
It is the province of geology 10 explore the
structure of the Carth's surface, and TO map the
various strata, aud leading features making
and describing the location aud boundaries OF the
different strata clearly delincating their intent
and positiou-nnd showing the extent and location
of the drift formation giving 10 the farmer
general knowledge of the origin and composition
of his soil To this extent Prof Norton saws,
geology may instruct If farmer "wishes 10
buy land in II distant region, and has no definite
knowledge as f. its character: he may determine
il. probable quality nj once from good geologi-
/ cal map. If he has cultivated the soil of some
particular formation, till he has come to like it,
and know better how to cultivate il than any 9th
er, he may in the same manner learn where to
find fer himself, or his children, the same kind of
land in some other district 1t furnishes to the
farmer the chart by which he is 10 hc guided i'll
procuring analy SEES of his soils. If he desires
positive information, when the geological map
points out the general origin and composition of
his soil, the chemist by definite analysis supplies
! this demand.
The practical value of this information may be
i easily explained. All plants consist of organic
and Inorganic substmccs-the latter of which
constitute their ashes, and are derived solely
from the soil. The sojlmust contain these sub
stances or the plant cannot grow. y very fer
tile soil contains all Of them in considerable guam
tty. Many soils contain some of them in large
quantity and deficient, sometimes destitute of
others. Thus, soils formed from granite may be
deficient in lime and the phosphates, whilst those
/ formed from decayed trap may contain lime album
dainty. In ignorance OF its composition, the far
mer may apply the very ingredient that abouds
IN his soil. The application may be wasted
/ indeed il may he injurious, rs frequently occurs,
whore magnetism lmestoneis applied to lands n
bounding in magnesia. In closing a very yalua-
BILE paper on this subject Professor Johnston re-
marks "'Fhe consideration of all these facts
show how Important in reference even to practi-
cal purposes acknowledge Of the geological sruc