The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-11-15


10 his Exes!leney Durid S. Red,
Ii may appear parasinxical Ia main.
tain that planter may diminish his
crops by the use of fertilizers, still
shall attempt to show that such re-
suit is possible. T'hearetically and
practically the. .dpctrine is both inter-
rsti,g and important. Il is founded
upon principles which | have had oc-
casion to state while speaking Of ma.
nnrcs and fertilizers. The doctrine
alluded to is based on two facts, viz :
that each plant requires certain innr>
ganic elements for its growth and per-
frction OF seed, and that the most inn
p0rtant of these elements exist in the
soil only in smaller proportions. Now
a plant, in certain respects, is like an
animal. lf yonng or an old animal
is supplied with large quantity of
food, lis growth j. promoted, or its Tat
accumulales. This il the case if the
food contains all the elements of nu-
triton. II is not the case, however,
If one or mnre of them are wanting.
In the case Of young animal, for ex-
ample, the milk which is the natural
fuod contains in its normal condition
every element which the system re-
quires; but il the milk should be def
cicnt in phosphate Of lime or phospho-
ric acid, the animal could not grow. or
if il did grow by means Of a small
amount Of phosplloric acid or phosphate
Of lime, the bones would be soft and
flexible. But this is not the point /
am attempting to prove or elucidate,
and the allusion is made merely for
the purpose Of stating the fact, that in
the food of both animals aud plants
there is a specially which should be
remembered by all planters and stock.
growers. But plants are unlike ami
mails in certain respects; their mouths,
for instance, are placed in magazine
of iood, but this magazine may com
tain rich supply OF certain elements
OF nutrition and very scanty supply
oi others but enough of all for the pre-.
sent to ensure the growth Of the plant
and perfection Of the seed. II now the
planter resorts to the use of the mine.
raj fertilizers, as plaster, the result
will be for the first two or three years
a greater growth Of heritage as well as
greater increase Of fruit or seed. Ii
this magazine Of food 1.-THE soil) contains
a small quantity only Of phosphate Of
lime, the employment Of plaster or sul>
phate Of lime puts the plant in condi-
tion TO use and take up a iargeramount
Of phosphate OF lime than it could, pro.
viled this mineral had not been en-
played. if this magazine contained
phosphate of lime which would have
lasted ten wears 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 figu.
ratively, the number of mouths formed
to take up food is proportionably in-
creased also, and hence, the store house
is more rapidly exhausted. We have
now arrived at the point where we can
see the consequences which accrue
from tie use of mineral fertilizers; the
elements Of food which exist in small
quantities only become exhausted in a
short period under this system ut cul-
tisation, and as every plant must have
every one OF the elements Of nutrition
for the perfection Of seed, the time
soon comes when seed cannot be per-
fcc.ed for the want of one element.
II he general effects of such a system ol
culture is seen at once, and yet the
planter may persevere in it, for he saw
in the beginning most gratifying re-
suits his crops may have been dou-
bled. and in order to keep up, and per.
haps attempt to increase the produc-
ton still more, supplies his fasorite
fertilizer in greater quantities, though
he may have seen after the second and
third year, that its employmentdid no,
turn out so fayorably as atfrst. This
result may be attributed to the season,
it vas too wet or too dry, too hot OF
too cold, or to any cause but the right
one. The nefghbors say be has killed
his soil by the use Of plaster. but the
true philosophy is, he has exhauste,
prematurely and unnecessarily one q
the essential elements Of fertility. Il
is evident enough he can no longer ust
piaster-he must find out what has be
come deficient in the suil. There il
no such thing as killing soil or ruin,
ing it, it isa simple exhaustion OF ont
or two eitments. What those lackin;