Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-08
Letter from Prof. Emmons.
Fbm the Standard.
RoxBoRo', Person Co., Oct. 20, 1854.

AOLS A1SetecHCy, DAfID D. ISElD
It may appear paradoxical to maintain
that a planter may diminish his crops by the
use of fertilizers, still | shall attempt to show
that such a result is possible. Theoretically
and practically the doctrine is both interest
ing and important. 1t is founded upon
principles which / have had occasion to state
while speaking of manures and fertilizers
The doctrine a.ludedto is based on two facts,
viz that each plant requires certain inorganic
elements for its growth md perfection ofseed,
and that thcmost ie1 mt Of these elements
arist IA the Aonl o~niss64saaiier proportions.
Now a plant, in certain respects. is like an
animal. If a young or an old animal IS
supplied with a large quantity of food its
growth is promoted, or its fat accumulates.
This is the case if the food contains all the
elements of nutrition. It is not the case,
however, if one or more o fthem are wanting.
In the case of a young animal, for example,
the milk, which is the natural food, contains
in its normal condition every element which
the system requires; but if the milk should
be deicientin phosphate oflime or phosphoric
of acid, the animal could not grow, or fit
did grow by means Of small amount of
~phosphoric acid or phosphate of lime, the
sones would be soft and flexible. But this
is not the point | am attempting to prove or
elucidate, and the ~allussion is made merely
for the purpose of stating the fact, that in
the food of both animals and plants there is
a speciality which should be remembered
by all planters and stockgrowers. But plants
are unlike animals in certain respects; their
pooubho Gov 1DcFopaa - nj aoa1 IN a .aaro-
zine of food, but this magazine may contain
a rich supply of certain elements Of nutrition
and a very seanty supply of others but
enough of all for the present to ensure the
growth Of the plant and perfection of the
seed. If now the planter resorts to the use
of the mineral fertilizers, as plaster, the re-
suit will be for the first two Or three years a
greater growth of heritage as we'll as a grea-
ter increase offruit or seed. If this magazine
Of food (the soi) contains a small quantity
only of phosphate of lime, the employment
of plaster or snlphate Of lime puts the plant
in a condition to use and take up a larger
amount Of phosphate Of lime than it could,
provided this mineral had not been employ
ed. If this magazine contained phosphate
of lime, which would have lasted ten years
with no fertilizer, it will not last more than
five with it, By the use Of this fertilizer the
root is increased in extent, and to speak
hguratlvely, the number of mouths formed
to take up food is proportio4ally increased
I -Ha h0HOU, Vho oUUro AsDv ~ more rap
idly exha listed. We have now arrived at the
point where we can see the consequences
which accrue from the use Of mineral fertili
uorc Z. Alo ol0nooDEa &c fooI ruhioA o-1ok -
small quantities only become exhausted in &
short period under this system of cultivation,
and as every plant must have every one o.
the elements of nutrition for the perfection
of seed, the time soon comes when seed can
not be perfected for the want of one element
The general effect Of such a system of culturt
is seen at once, and yet the planter may per
severe in it for he found in the beginning mos
gratifying results F.; his crops may have beer
doubled, and in order to keep up. and per
haps attempt to increase the production still
more, supplies his favorite fertilizer in create
quantities, though he may have seen afte
the second and third year, that its employ
t ment did not turn out so favorable as at first
This result may be attributed to the season
t it was too wet or too dry, too hot or too cold
or to any cause but the right one. III
7 neighbors say he has killed his soil by tn
: use of plaster, but the true philosophy is, b
has exhausted prematuf~1y and unnecessaril
one of the essential elements of fertility. ]
e is evident enough he can no longer use pla'
$ ter-he must find out what has become def
b cient in the soil. There is no such thing
Z killing a soil or running it it is slmpl
exhausted of one or two elements. VIII;
those lacking elements are must now
e found out and the remedy becomes a simp
d application or restoration of what has bee
u I'M udiciously removed. What is true
Gypsum is equally true of Peruvian Guam
y The proportion Of inorganic matter in th
q variety is much smaller relatively than in Il
Mexican. 1t is highly active upon worn o.
! soils, producing heavy crops of the cerea
q the first year. The continued use of this kt
d of Guano alone for a succession of yea
brings about that condition ofthe soil | ha'
II alluded to, or according to the expressi
# phrase Of planters and farmers, the soil
If killed. 1t may be inquired here, if the
are the results Of plaster and Peruvian g
ID ano, what are they good for? Tanswer tn
y are the preparatives for a good system
= husbandry and are designed to save time
% They bring about in one year what would
n quire four or five by the ordinary means,
the use of green crops or even stable manu-
ce The soil is brought at once in a condition
n produce, but it is not by Replication of
same fertilizer, eUen Gmano.
" Now, the planter may use his straw,
clover crop, or his stable manure to keep
" the fertility of his soil, and why Fit is
- cause these contain a greater variety OF nu
Z, Der OF the elements of food which the pla
requires. The intelligent English farmer
= plies lime largely once by this, he obtai
a stock IN trade to go on-he borFows largt
~ for once, and by it is enabled, if he and
stands the principles of husbandry, to p
e back what he has borrowed. But he wol
nc not think of paying back in lime-that wol
o. ruin him but he is now prepared for
use of the slower or more organic f~ertiliz
combined, and by their use he may go
without killing his soil. So Guano is to
=, used once to save time and prepare the "
=, for the less active fertilizers. The vendor
'nS this article will tell a different story, for i
y q p~erishable article and must be sold the E
season; but the intelligent planter will
:. that he can 90 OF successfully by one apl
IN cation and save his fifty dollars per ton
me other purposes.
Most respectfully, yours, &C.,
E. EMMONS, State Geolegist