Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-06-22

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all off .ha, it produces, and restore to the
soil none Of those elements that are neces-
sary, yes, absolutely essential, to the forma-
tion and profitable production OF the cereals.
True, we may for a time have our drafts on
mother earth duly honored but not more
certainly by one bank than the other, will
they be protested in the end, unless we have
the righ, kind of deposites to meet ihem.-
Guano does not furnish all thai is requisite !;
and as usually applied to the wheat crop,
but very small portion Of The essentials
are given TO The soil that evena moderate
crop of whea, takes from l--sav Is TO ~
bushels We cannot reverse the order OF
nature, or change the laws\nrdained by an
al-wise and over-ruIing Providence. And
although we may, in accordance with these
+! laws, cause ",wo blades of grass 10 grow
where only one grew before,' 1t is as futile
to expect continuance of this increased
product without the requisite support, as to
suppose, that man can continue to labour
without. adequate food %and rest. Lands
NAV be So fertile naturally lha! they may
endure this \ireatmen, fox years; but how
long before our poor lands are made rich by
EheAvy cropping, light dressings OF guano a.
lone the manure,-or rather. how long un-
der this system before they will fail TO pay
and be still more impoverished, am unable
to say bu. am inclined 10 the opinion that
i, is in fair way of being proved. This
experiment is left for others to finish and
determine to their own satisfaction.
There is certainly wide spread srirl OF
agricultural improvement, abroad in the land
and have no wish or desire whatever 10
check il, or throw distractions in The way !;
but from my own experience ln rendering
poor land more productive, and comparing
it with The practice of very many who so
fully eXpend their slender means,-oilen,
too, incurring debts which the increased
profits are by no means certain TO liquidale,
for the purchase and frequently injucIcious
use Of guano, am not Without strong fears
that il may 10 The end prove an injury ra-
,her than a benefit 10 them.
We are all too liable 10 be led away by
what promises present profit or qualification.
to always look ahead snd be guided By
sound reasoning or the experience Of 9th
ers. Science, and which is properly speak
ing only knowledge or more intimate ac-
quain,ance with the laws of natuIe,-lhe
causes from which mus, result certain ef-
fects-,eaches us daily. as does also COM
mon sense. that we canno. produce some
hing out of nothing. They also teach US,
that TO obtain a succession of grain crops.
we must restore to The land al least as much
and as manv of The elements of fertility, as
the crops take from il !; or The product must
in time diminish, and she land be impover-
Ii-hed: Just as certainly as that if we cut off
the supply Of water al the head, or exhaust.
the reservoir, it will cease TO flow. To
make saving crops, and at the same time
make my poor land richer. it was found ne
cessary to add great deal more to the soil
in these elements than all the crops could
lake off.
But what does experience teach? In Pc
ru, where gusno has been used for centuries,
and where we must presume they do know
something about ii, our most reliable lniof-
nation is that it requires consian! applIca-
lions-even repeated the same season, and
aided too bv the deposits from irrigation
wherever practicable, to continue Its prol-
table use. NV information is derived from
many intelligent individuals who have vIsl-
ted both the guano islands and Peru, where
the cos, 10 the ,iller of the soil is not over
one fourth to one-siXth of what We are now
paying for freigA alone. This is in accor-
dance with early formed opinions; ii is
verified by my own experience, and perhaps
of some others, by their fields now covered
with sorreI. and only here and there spear
of sinted looking clover; and this alter Sc
veral successive applications of guano and
as many crops OF grain.
Entertaining these views, do not use gu
ano alone or at all, except when soon and
certainly TO be followed by more durable
manures. Indeed, am almost afraid TO ad-
wise in general way, its use TO ''improve
wotn-ou, lands" although the evidence is
10 its favour ,ha, by proper management II
nav be made 10 benefit The soil. ! have
known individuals so run away with the
aImos, magical effects Of guano, that they
would not take the trouble to haul out their
manure
In recent ride of IL to Is miles, pass
ed farm noted for its produc!Iveness IN
former years-lhe soil naturally good, and
where | have seen fine crops OF grain and
clover as rank as it could be grown. As
passed one of these fields, the present sp-
pearance to my eye was just as magical the
other way. The last crop OF wheat was
guanoed, and doubtless clover seed sown
!, but came 10 the conclusion that had seer
; more clover growing on one acre OF 'hi:
| field than was now visible on twelve to IT.
teen acres. But suppose light crop o
! clover to follow its applica.lon,-a good ont
have not yet seen from 'he usual and re
peated applications Of guano alone on poo
, land and constant croppng-and the pas
F! lure fails on other fields, il is almost lDpos