Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-13
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 5

IS. ast May 80, 1853. /
tn Ills ExcELLxNcy, Dawn s. RElD:
might with propfieiy go on and stale how Il is
that the bestowmeni OF thought upon, agriculture is
SO rarely given. LIST. There is want OF tangibility
in the subjects Of this nature. . here is something
involved in the growth OF blade of grass, OF
corn. or Of boil Of cotton which the mind cannot
readily grasp. We witness the fact Of their growth,
hut The process is incomprehensible or It is so much
enveloped in mystery, that all our thoughts, which
are expended upon il, return upon themselves unsat
iseJ But in the second place. this arsesn part from
looking at the subject in the gross. we think OF
entire results without besowing thought upon de-
tails-we regard the complete result, and forget TO
take cognzance Of the successive steps which have
produced tive think Of the end and forget the be-
ginning starting point. The whole leaf or COLI
plete ear is in the mind, while the little celia which
make them up forgotten. And what Of the little
ce1 Why, tie first cell, which is only pellucid
membrane of microscopic minueness is made by the
parent This cell, whether in the air or in water or
whether il torms the central part OF Seed and g
developed in n magazine Of food possesses the pow
Of inhihing nutrlment without the aid OF clrcu-
ating apparatus. II therefore grows But il not only
grows by mbibing through, and by its walls. nntr-
menl; but II also mul,iplies itself This it does in
TIVE ways. The first is by simple division; one
cell becomes two, these two continue to grow and
again divide, and The second mode is by the
pruduc upon the wall of the little cell Of the
granule, which by its power also, of the inhibition
Of nutrimenl, becomes shortly cell itself. Thus
The cells, thus produced, may continue to multiply,
in other words by constant production OF cells OF
This is the simplest idea Of growth by the constant
production of cells. There is another idea which
must, however, be added TO the above, viz f0rm0-
tfve pOVer, power force which gives to each
Leaf and each ear its form. Each plant is built up
upon its own plan but STILL however diverse the
external form OF families of plants may be, the entire
whole of each and every ole OF them is perfected by
the same system of cell building. There is super
added in each particular species the force which gives
form to congeres Of cells by which the eye at
perceives the differences which exist in the species
which compose the entire organic kingdom 1t is
not by thoughts bestowed upon the entire and perfect
individual, part Of individual plant that
comprehend the organizing force power; it is only
by descending. or going back TO the first condition Of
individual, and Ihen taking note Of the successive
steps by which the individual becomes complete and
perfect One that get insight into the ysteries
of growth. No thought, as have already said, direct
ed the subject in the gross, gives any light. any
satisfaction. But all heartily hate these details
these progressive steps we, therefore, jump
final result which hears only the plausible for sus
tanning view, and which rarely bears the Of
detailed examination.
But have digressPd ioOs much from the subject
matter of former letter. | wish TO say word upon
The improvement of old and long cultivated lands.
Undoubtedly the main method Of improvement must
now, and ever will be, the application OF fertilizers.
This is plain enough, for il is this kind Of matter
which has been removed-the old field differs from
what it was when the first crop was taken from it,
by wanting certain elements Of growth which have
been removed from the soil in the successive crops
it has borne. These have been converted into money
ur its equivalent, and something having resemblance
to what these original elements were, must be sup
Piled Nov the universal, the most acceptable of
all fertilizers, is the barn farm yard manure there
no doubt Of this il may be less active than some,
but at the time, i'll the long 1t is very eff
fecve when a certain amount of water is lef; out OF
the reckoning have special reason for speaking
OF this kind of fertilizer as general thing is lost
ia this Stale. Ii arises from very erroneous system
of keeping and treating all kinds Of stock.
l. The stock is never confined summer or winter. 1t
may be ranging the roads near the dwellings, as it
often requires a careful step and watchlul eye
cape certain consequences near the front gate. Ot
it all goes for liIe nothing. The waste is
obvious. and the loss ruinous, in the end to plana-
lion for believe that many plantations would never
have passed into the conditions OF old fields, had there
been paid to the housing yardng of stock that at
tention which its importance demands. This fertil-
zer is especially valuable for its composition fits il
for all crops il is the general of all fertilizers,
consists of organic and inorganic matter, and the
conclusion is rationale that it is made up of the
matter which once CREW. SO its elements are such as
TO possess that relationship to growing NATTER or to
our numerous crops, as 10 be at once available to
them. Ii the docne is true il should be promug at-
ed if believed, it will lead in Itself, in virtue of its
own merits, to entire revolution in husbandry in
certain parts of the State. There will be added to
the of the planter in the matter Of the fer
iilizeT great gain. The excrements OF well-fed
animal in year equivalent 10 ten dollars IN
cash, and the value Of a we-fed animal is Increased
and is equal to another dollar bill the Cape
Fear Bank. l leave the rest of the calculation to
oIhers-the subjec is one TO which TIE principles
taught by Dabo'l may be applied. The doctrine is;
that stock consisting of hugs, horses, andca should
be housed and yarded, if for other end thar TO
quire increased amount Of fertilizers. There IS
no country which know which possesses SO few
natural advantages for supplying this single want as
certain parts Of North Carolina, and hence the prac-
tce of the doctrine becomes the necessary here
than in many other parts of the Y nion.
l am, most respectfully,
! Your servant,
E. EMMONS.