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

I tb,u IN Gains. (BOa~ingaklr' ~ "h
fre,aeee,s Of earbonie gas to then i'aies
,Ler 4rovth increases their Nlgor' ana ehii lln
tbeir secretions Farmers Encyei"P"eci H.
Whatever impodcs the Tree efcuia'ioh - -
,..,.,.lere. or exhnusts its carbonie acid IN is
,,r,..,ges. ta the growing crops always produces
i,;,sr;ans effects upon the cultivated plants.
II bas been observed in Europe, that the crops
aI,vaVs Weld an inferior produce when saffouh'-
ol bV thick plantations Of timber trees noi ilo''i
tLe .ff.cts II shading. but from their cXhaastlng
mower upon the carbonic acid OF the ar. MS
! tho observed effect. even when so large pro-
norton of the country is open and when 'he sa.'e
density of forest does not occur u PfeNais VIZ"
us. Upon many farms there Is neScusapie car
lcssness and neglect IN the dense growth u pip
field mines in the urable ficlds-negected hedSe
rows. ditch and creek banks, sometimes lew
acres of native forest and irregular outlines III
the clearngs. These must not be regarded rs
merely negligent but us positively injurious
not only as presenting soyenlY appearance
rendering the cultivation and enclosure oil the
fields more expensive and laborous, but as dunn
i-hing the products of the cultivated surface
The old-feld pine is particularly liable to TINS
objection, the rapidly of its growth, even upon
the poorest soils-the number Gifts leaves-show
its exhausting powers upon the atmosphere. he
farmer should remember that his crop can thrive
no better in an atmosphere deprived OF its earboHc
acid. than in a soil exhausted OF It's fertility II
he wishes n striking Illustration, let him SOW al
tcrnate strips of clover with plaster or, OF wheat
with guano and leave harrow strips for trial.
The pIastered clover and the guanoed wheat will
soon oyertop the unaided portions, exhaust
the air of its carbonic acid in passing, and
by its greater luxuriance You actually injure the
unaided strips. The experiment will not pre-
sent simply a striking eonrast-nor injury
fror, IA dina lint a diuiniS bpd proD from mere
proximity 10 a more luxurant growth
The injurious effects of these patches of pines
may be impressed by another statement. In four
thousand pounds Of the atmosphere, only four
pounds of carbonc acid are intermixed--or rath-
or more than one pound of carbon-sufficient TO
form about two pounds of dry pine. H. then,
we assume the correctness of that theory, which
asserts the assimilation of the entire carbon thro
the leaves of the plants near four thousand
pounds of air must have been entirely deprived
Of its earbonic acid to form two pounds of dry
pine-or still larger quantity of airpartially ex-
hausted. Under such circumstances, IA gentle
current of air reaches the borders of the cult
waited crops, after passing through these patches
of dense pines, to supply that food to the growing
crop which Is to make near one half Of its weight
1t is true that the inequalities of the earth's sur
face, the varying currents OF air, and the known
property of these gasses to intermnglc and per
but extensive injury may first ensue. One of the
first objects to which the attention of the farmer
should be turned, is the removal of all such nui-
sances in his cultivated ields-leayng nothing
but the necessary shade trees for ornament, or
for protection to his cattle.
The next organic element of plants is nitrogen.
OF this substance the cultivated plants contain
small and valuable proportions, seldom reaching
rs high as four per cent.-One hundred pounds
al, Il, II Il
pounds of carbon and about two pounds of nitro
gen. The proportions used merely for Illus
traton, and not for specific information. Small
As the relative quantity of nitrogen Is, it forms
most important element in plants and manurcs.
1t constitutes the nutritious principle of plants
that ingredient which imparts flesh and muscle
to animals An eminent author asserts, as the
result of analysis and observation, that the nu-
trtlons power of plants is in proportion TO the
quantity of nitrogen they contain Bousingault.)
The quantity is increased by the supply furnish
ed through the soil on which they grow hence
Il becomes most important subject for our ex-
animation.
Whilst plays so prominent part in the nu-
trtious principle of food it is at the same time
the eminently enrichng quality of all organic
manure 1t forms the chief fertilizng substance
IN the guanos, nltrates and compounds of ammo
ma; IN fact 1t Is the proportion of nitrogen
"lH'h hNtH INT comparative value OF ulnerent
manners. 1t forms four ffths of the entire at
moSpherc constantly surrounding the plants and
presenting an ineXhaustible supply-but general
" maHailing in its simple form.
Plants receive this nitrogen through their roots
sometimes from the nitrates, but chiefly in the
form OF ammonia u.iebig, 70) the formation of
these compounds then becomes the subject of in
qniry, as the enriching quality of the manures
depends upon the quantity they contain. Lib
eral manuring is the basis of all agriculture. 1t
Is scarcely necessary to say, that the farmer must
rely upon the produce of his own fields and of
his animals for the means of maintaining the fer
hhty of his lands, and that all other manurcs
which he can obtain must be regarded as subSi-
diary to this main source of supply. The mate
rails must be collected and applied with method,
system and Judgment and with special regard to
those inorganic substances found in the ashes of
plants. But if negligence and waste character
ne the operations of the farmer in the use of those
materials, there can be no justification for the
purchase of guano or other special manures to
remedy his appropriateness.
TO BE CONTINUED.