Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-11-08
.nnREss OF JOHN X. EpMuNps, ESQ

No,o cries. "unrest, Unrtsi
OcroBEn 30TH, 1853.
ADDRESS OF JOHN r. EDMUNDS, ESQ.
Before the Virginia State Agricultural Society," Nor s. 1888
Nh ppruprsr AND GgsTLEMvS:-The Executive Com
mse have invited deliver the fret annual address on
this occasion The Constitution OF our Society pcscIoes
the suhscs Of this address, and limits tem 10 pfaca'
horticulture or science auxiliary 10 agriculture It's 10
me source OF regret that the task not devoved
upon more competent person. But II was mol lor me 10
eyudo the duties involved nor TO shun the responsibility
IL imposed shrink from the post which they have as
signed and display ukewarm zeal in This noble hort TO
The prosperity OF our STATE su5
public duty, and by that consideration alone may Justly
claim the indulgence Of the Society for its imperfect dis
charge
Tine extent Of territory aud s undeveoped resources
present their difficulties the fist view. Our Stale
stretches from tho Ocean the East, TO the tributaries OF
the Mississippi on the West embracing the Atlantic SLOPE
the intermediate valley and passing the Aleehanles II
spreads upon the valleys of the western waters con-
tanning the great elements at national wealth IN It's mineral
treasures manufacturing power outlets tor commerce. diver.
city so and In its capacity for varied agricultural pro-
ducts II combines the leading divisions OF agriculture in
farming, plating aud grazing
With this extensive territory and variety of SOILS
commencing Of improved agriculture Upon the fer
,ily Of tho depends upon the consti
tuent eemcn,s Of the soil It's fertility knowledge
OF the general origin and composition of The soil must form
the rst foundation which build But here science has
no, shed Its light upon pathway. No geological report
with maps surveys OF the State has been
published In such form 10 be accessible 10 the farmers
informed
and prevailing strata Of their own counties nor The probable
origin Of their SOILS The soils of the State have been but
little studied and accurate analyses have not developed the
Of stey in extensive areas embracing large poE
lions of many counties.
Our soils are formed from the decompossd fragments Of
the rocks on which they lic other rocks usually
great distance They very neatly of the
The rocks themselves from which they formej
and may expect any lneredieat In large quantity
which rocks themselves did not contain. GeOl0gsls
have given the of strated and unsatihcd The
leading and grand divisions OF these rocks The OF
second class differ widely in their composition, and will
give rise soils paakng Of their distinctive characleris
tics. Thus, the granite contains within It's feidspar and
mica considerable quantities Of potash and soda but there
scarcely any ime aud phosphaes beyond traces
Some varieties Of giane do contain these substances in
fair propnrnns but Tor the there is very little Of
either Nortons Elements. FOG Soils formed from their
decomposition may contain potash OF soda, but may
with great certainty anticipate deficiency Of lime and the
phospha,es So /" the leading division, speci
VI the trap rock contain proportion OF lime calcula
ted carbonate equal 10 70 per cent one fifth Of their
wesht-fProf Johnson, Edinburgh Quarterly journal OF
Agriculture p 422 ls47.4s They contain feidspar also,
decomposition will be usnd more fertile Than those Of
ntc orieu.
poson occupy various positions and incnalons
the salhs surface but their relative position 70 each other
found SINortons Elements, zoo The same differences
will pervade The soils which exist the various In
this general observation however, must except those dis
tcs where disturbing influences have operated the
original rocks by transported materials from other
source-by which the cumb'ed fragments of other lorna.
unknown
power and now overlie the original rocks Even in this
event. an inspection oil dstrct by praclsed would
Immediately detect foreign Deposits mud determine their
character NorlUn's Elements, FOG
II 10 the province Of geology ~ explore the structure Of
tho enrIhs surface and To the various strata and lead
Ing features and describing The location and boun
daIes OF the different sratu-ccary dclneating their
and position and the aud location OF the drift
10 the farmer general knowledge OF the
origin and composition of his soil 10 this extent Prof Norton
geology may instruct: If farmer wishcs buy land
Ia distant region aud has no definite knowledge to its
character he may determine s probable quality from
good geological II he has cultivated the soil Of some
particular formation, till he has 10 like IL aud know
better how TO cultivate II than any Other he may
nunner. learn where ~ find Tor himself for his children the
same kind OF land In some oer district" 1t furnishes
the farmer the chart by which ho is to be guided procuring
analyses oil his soils II he desires positive nrorma lion
when the geological map points out The general origin and
composition SOIL the chemist by denlvo analysis sup
plies this demand.
pla!ned All plants consist of organic inorganic sub
stancos-hc latter OF which ashes; and are
derived solely from tho coil The must cun,a these
substances or The plant cannot grow. very fertile soil
coniana oil OF them IN considerable quantity. Many soils
contain some OF them In large Quantities. and deficient
sometimes destitute OF Others Thus soils formed from gran
lie may be efficient In lime and the p0sphales, whilst
formed irom decaycd trap may contain line abundan,y In
Ignorance Of compositions re farmer may apply The very
Ingredient that abounds in hrs soilhe application may be
wasted indeed, II may be Injurious frequently occurs
where 'nosnesan limestone applied abounding
magnesla In closing valuable paper this SUBJECT
Professor Johnston remarks rne all
facts show how np"anr in reference practical pur
H. how necessary that The general origin and composition
Of tho soil should be asceraned and that neither lime
any Other substance should be applied IT, of nhich the chem
zeal composition not eracty knOon Edinburgh Journal
Of Agriculture, lSl9, p. $50.
Wmst all inorganic substances Of plants i'm.
porianl 10 their growth lime Ia s various combinations Is
BY lar the useful and extensively applied One
OIL the distinctive features in the soils Of this State is absence
OF carbonate OF lime in nearly n Throughout The tide
water region general fact there is deficiency Of limo
10 any OF s combinations Wherever this deficiency &C.
ours abundant Cause for stefily The former President
ma fhs eHen n
haa also discovered that the naturally poor soils OF that
ton contain an acid injurious growth Of cultivated
crops The application OF mari lime cUects this Hcidiy
ind supplies Of the SOIL Before this discovery
successive had tocd with enduring
but unrewarded industry No amount Of Industry no dis.
play Of skill could supply the want Of knowledge The
rols could neither be durably prohtaby improved by
purescent msnures But the application of calcareous
manures will give to their worst soils power Of 70
alnng purescent manures equal that of the best and
Will productiseness and yield profit Than
suy other Improvement practicable IN lower Virginia
(Rufu Calcareous Manures The Of soil are
pooled out-he remedy appied-pemnnent and profitable
foowslhe resources OF the State deve
Oped-the wealth of citizen increased-pVate interests
md public motives concur TO stimulate The energies OF her far
These beueits flow from the announcement Of
single seentf; truth and the esten. Of it's vsluo will
scarcely be appreciated by hes8xisling generation
nareaty TO be regretted. that our information IN regard
TO the ds,rict above Is limited and uncertain
There Is geological map guide course. Over The
d6ersu, paris This wisely exceeded area have every
variety Of primary slra,ed rocks producing soils OF every
degrees OF fertility Many counties covered by gaeiss
~ o HVm uheh ~ hgh' co'oleu, oeie'eu'
10 lime magnesia &C. In many Others sandstones the
icading formations and the sus formed from them the
mos! sterile perhaps to be found in the State.
Alter crossing The Blue Ridge reach the lime stone for
nation, which occupies entire length and most of the
breadth OF tho soils generally FERTILE some
OF them emne1ty So Successive of lime
and slate found 10 proceeding westward from the
Valley, terminating 10 the coal formation of the
west BY far the greater part Of these rich limestone
sos are destitute of the carbonate Of lime but are sue.
iied With lime In the form of scate OF lme-(ProE Gil
ham)
Iare Is strong for believing that deficiency OF
lime any of Its combinations is the chief Of sery
10 naturally poor soils of ell those districts and
increased supply needed In The moro fertile soils For the