Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-29
our servant,
T.. EMMONS.
May 30, 1858.


To HIS ExcLLENcY, Dawn s. REID:
SIR: The subject of improvement OF old lands
takes broad field. II might be expected, ard err
haps demanded, that | should sustain and carry out
the doctrine of the last communication by state
meni of details, how old lands should be treated In
order bring Cp their productiVeness TO a STAN
dard higher than they possessed IN the FIRST periods Ut
cultivation. shall attempt, however, to do this
with any degree Of fulness, and before touch at all
upon the subject, wish 10 make remark or Tvs o
which have general bearing upon the whole subject
In the FIRST place, agricultural writers when they pro-
pose improvements very apt 10 make them too
sweeping. They, for instance. propose deep drain
ing, deep plcwing lime FERTILIZER etc., or some
special mode Of procedure in order 10 obtain given
end Now, general doctrines excellent when
they general lint il frequently happens that there
are important exceptions. X is not every field which
requires draining, may he injured by it; II Is
not every field Which requires lime, and even when
il is required the conditions not the same. II
the soil is destitute of organic matter quite def
Client in il, lime, though it may be wanting in the
soil, still. ithout giving also supply OF organic
matter it will be useless il i'll fail, and the plan
ter will be disappointed. He will say 10 his neigh
bors that he had tried lime and il die good he has
lost his money and his labor. Now sensible man
need be told that suclI result is douhlY bad. The
may be said Of phosphate Of lime and Of guano.
Ii the farmer planter is unacqualnted with the con-
position of his soil il he is ignorant of the condi-
lions which are necessary to insure good results.
there are many chances to that he VIII fail IN the
use Of recommended mode, or in the use OF a good
FERTILIZER My doctrine, therefore, IS that all general
doctrines set forth by writers should be reduced 10
specalities far possible that is, while the doc
irine is set forth in general terms. the conditions
which areIequired ;r their successful working should
be laid down also. But all this would require inves
tigaLiOn; il would demand very close observation;
and, perhaps, more still, the chemical exanina-
ton of the soil. Now, believe that because inves-
iigation required many failures happen 10 the very
best modes that, though there is looseness in stat
Ing doctrines and facts by writers, yet there is only
one source Of disappointment; there is remaining d
want of expenditure of thought upon the subjects by
the farmer himself. There some men whom
believe are more lavish in the expenditure Of money
than they In the expenditure Of thought though
The rule generally is, not expend either, especially
in husb1ndry There is still another class quite
like the Two former; THAI class who take in all the
doctIines and digest none--whose minds are like a
use to the membrane which contains it. Again, some
suppose that planting and farming may be success
fully prosecuted, the plan that cook makes
up her fries and cakes that is by receipts which tell
them how good crop of corn, tobacco, wheat may
be raised. There is much Of this kind of husbandry
every where, for if there is no written form Of
celpts there s about the same thing in the brain
there is routine without thought. which is ear
rtec ont mechanically. There is no expenditure of
thought about the conditions of the soil, the eli
mates or pecuilarties of the seasons. There is no
employment upon which thought might be so prof.
tabty expended, agriculture deep thought, too /;
Il is true we may think about the result of an expe-
Tment, bui of it's failure, We can form no
judgment without Instruction in the elements Of Ag-
aIienltnfe. ain, Sir, most respectable,
es Your obedient servant,
+ lt--z---,4-.sa-4-as Z. EAiMONS-