The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-11-08


a soil exhausted OF all those elements.
1t contained the first year it was
brought into cultivation, and which it
originally derived from the decompo
s'ion OF vegetable matter upon its
surface, the answer is easy viz i,
provide it with sufficient quantity of
vegetable matter, aud this, in it's de-
composition will renew in the soil those
needed elements. This needed mate.
rial may be provided in more WAYS
than one. Let tie land thus ilnpover-
ished be kept enclosed, and let the
natural growth of grass and weeds
which take possession of it remain
undisturbcd for several years success
'vely, to rot ana dccompose, and as
each crop dies aud return, to its moth
er arth, adding to the constituent ele
lncnts Of the latter, the products of it's
own decay, will the earth itself brcone
enriched with the food required for a
future cultivated crop. We fully ap
preciatc the Importance of thus qipiuq
rest to land, rs it is called, with the
view of renewing its fertility; and, we
question not, -four planters were, with
this end in view, TO adopt the plan.
before their lands become ,npoverish
ed, of keeping enclosed double the
quantity, or at the least, more by one
ha'f than they cultivate, the defects of
southern planting would to grea,
extent be removed. and little dill.
gence then, in collecting manure,
would enable the planter, nol only to
preserve, but to Increase, yral after
year, the fertility OF his fields. The
practise ot turning green crops into the
land is Il more cxpe,litinns and pcrnans
more cillcrnt means of fertiiz nu. Ii
lsn"t our purpose to dccry either OF
these modes of tcrtilizng, but TO invite
your attention t" n joint means with
these; Il simple, certain, and to the bulk
of planters, cheap and easy, means uf
rcnovaling the soil. We are no,
painting out any new substance, u
manure, nor are we directing your
attention to any absolutely lovcl
rSpedicnt in tnrnng economy, except
it may be. rs regards tie mode Of pre-
! P"riny, and tie pnrHc"iur torm IN
mich IL is most proEtaJic to employ
vegetable mailer from tic woods, as O
fertilizer the question however, how
may it be most proIilab!y employed
a s"rh, is " highly Important one
In our communication Some time since
we stated our objection 10 its use in a
fresh state, we repeat them h,re..-.-
First, Uc laLor Of carling into the
field is twice as great rs when i, is
suffered to rot first. Secondly, it is
5" very inert when applied in that state
(tlI"iSh containing; nusritivc prore,
ties in ahundance) as to give no el
enlargement /" tile planter to continue
Its use rsrccia ly il used without the
admiXture ot some substance To asteb
It's decomposition. And thirdly, it
does injury I" the crop which im:nr,li
ateIy follows its application, choking
and "hStructirg the roots uf young
plants &c. 1t is only when we'll rot,ed
that it can he p:"tilably used. II
should be rakcd up in piles in the
month Of November when the leaves
have fallen, nzd suffered to lie, noi,iIl
the next March or April, but IL full
twelvcmonth longer, before il IS used.
In It's then partially decompos d state,
--consisting as it does, OF many differ
cnt t.'ubstanccs,--the leaves and stems
Of vari"ns species Of oak, of hickory,
d"Sw"ud, pine &c, and G. ntanin-
largely, as it does, the elements which
cutter into the lo,d of cultivated plants,
our observation and experience bear
us out in affirming, that it is by itself,
without the addition of any other sub
stance, or any farther preparatory
process,-a good manure; one ell
worth the labnur of collecting. cartine
and pl"ughing Into the land to tn.
planter wh" can procure it ut a conve-
nlent distance from his field. and who
fails in providinga Il sufficient quantity
ot manure from the stable and cattle
pen. But (and ITO this but hangs a