The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-01-31

exclusively OF iish, dry weight, IS worth two or
three han6red pounds Of the same FISH for ma
aure before they were eaten by birds. This is
an important fact, and one that points to the
Uhy g2ano is SO valuable. Fish part with a
large shore Of their carbon and elements Of
wa,er III the sys,ens of birds that digest :hem,
so ,has foar hundred pounds of fish, dry
weight, yield only one hundred pounds Of dry
euano. The latter contains neaIly all the nj
| tresen and osPhases, soda, lime. and msgne~
sin, which the fish posssed while the eombus-
tibe sarbon and hydrogen in the fish were it,
erallv burnt in the bodies of the birds 10 keep
them warm. In this way nature concentrates
ferfilisers, and thereby Greatly facilitates their
cheap and extensive distribution for agrcul.
,ural purpeses It has long appeared to MS
strange indeed that American farmers do not
offer fair renlnneratmg reward 10 tie man
who will make an Improvement in the known
processes for deodorisng and concentrating
the fecal matters that so abound in all cities.
Farmers, and particularly cotton planters, need
rich and cheap manure, while they do next to
nothing TO obtain it. They uniformly turn
their backs to men Of science, Who, with
little encouragement, would very cheerful
" labor All their lives to advance the best in.
terests of farmers: Who would readily be-
lieve that the great State of Georgia, so strict
" an agricultural Commonwealth, caMnnot at.
ford to employ so much as one man OF sci
cnce to devote who could his whole time and
talents te enlarge, by original researches, the
bounds of her agricultural knowledge2 If ru-
raj literature is never cultivated, if the owners
of the soil constantly reject the means for sub
stantil progress in tillage andbu>bandry, how
can they reasonably expect any benefits from
science, or any advancement in their knowl-
edge of the true principles of agriculture? We
put the question plainly, but most respectfully.
How many years longer ought Georgans to
wait before they begin to cultivate and es'
TEEN agricultural sciences as worthy Of pub
lie regard!
The science Of extracting manure from the
subsoil and the atmosphere, from springs,
brooks, rivers and the ocean, will be worth ma.
ny millions year to her people, if they viii
only fairly introduce the science into every
country. knowledge is the parent Of all our
wealth. And yet, the most valuable agricu!-
tural knowledge in the world has no friends in
America to foster its strength in its Infancy,
and bring its rich fruits to full maturity. Why
ttrangie at its birth the most promising off.
spring, and then revle the parents because
their child appears "stiIl born9" Science can
net work miracles nor can it serve the public
without the food you So freely give to labor
ing OK or mule. 10 understand the relation Of
things in agriculture, they must be taught, they
must be stndiea.
We commenced this article with the nten.
ton of discussing the relation that 100 pounds
Of guano bears to Il like weight of merchanta
bic cotton but from the lack Of experimental
farms at the South, from general unwilling
ness to Investigate the true connection that
subssts between manures and crops, between
guano and cotton, we find on research that
there are no data on which to base n sound ar
gnment. While we are happy to obtain re!ia-
bic and useful facts in every legitimate way,
God forbid that our editorial duties shall ever
lead US to manufacture them. Looking to the
and speaking plainly on most important sub
iect, we. believe that planters had better pur
chase guano at present prices to increase the
truitfuIness of their farms, instead of investing
their money in more negroes the sooner TO i'm
poverish the best arabic lands Of the sunny
South. Labo'ing hands are valuable; we have
never said word to their disparage but
knowledge is more valuable than any mere
physical powers possibly can be. Itmust con
control, wisely or fooishly, all physical agen-
cies OH every plantation. If this be true, then
we submit that plantation knowledge deserves
systematic cultivation from year to year, quite
as much as the plantation itself y person is
no more born wise than the germ in a cotton
seed unaiLed can produce three hundred bolls
filled with the best lint The planter is
himself subjected to natural laws, not less than
his soil, his agricultural plants, his domestic
animals and his servants; and as all these laws
emanate from one and the same great Law.
Giver, to study and obey them is The highest
wisdom # the farmer. ID. LEE.