Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-03-16
AerifnItural.
The Principles of Manuring Crops

The elimaie-the quality Of the SOIL mechani-
cal. as well as ehemical--lhe aspect-the eleva-
tiOn-snd even the crOp--We all modifying
circumstances, as well as the influence Of the
geological strata on which the soil rests
Though the latter is often modified by drifts
yet the mechanical character Of the soil, as
vsll as the chemical. has much to do with
the. value Of the supercumbent strata Hence
we have arri we'd at tie following deductions,
which embrace almost the whole of our knowl
edge:
T. The same manure will not always have
the same effect either on the same soil for an
other. or another soil for the same crop, or eth
er on the one or the other for any great period
oftime.
1t was custom in Cheshire, some years
20, for capitalists to farm; to manure the whole
year after year, with SCOT; to raise great crops !
but, ultimately, to leave the farm denuded Of
itsstamina so muth as 10 be almost worthless
for years after from simple sterility. This was
said to be because the SCOT was stimulent aid
not a manure But we shall allude afterwards
tOlhe eucidalion of this principle.
2. On some soils mineral manure is quite
adequate to produce ample crops.
This was so far proved by the theoretical
calculations Of Liebig, that he suggested
purely mineral theory, and Messrs. Muspratt
d Co. manufactured one under his direction,
which was an abrOlute failure.
3 On other soils smmoniacal, or, at least, ex-
otc manures with OF without corbonaceous
manure, or the latter alone, will produce better
crops than mineral manure, and will alone Sc
cure avery full production.
So far did Mr.. Huxtable carry this, that he
proposed the application of amounts t a giver
price as the only panacea for the farmer, ant
the certain means Of growing wheat at 4os PEI
quarter.
On their soils mechanical mixtures will
do more to benefit Soil than any manur
whatever; in other words, the addition Of sub
stances useless in themselves will promote pro
duction of crops before impossible to be grow
on the land, and will ensure crops Of mucl
better quality and larger quantity.
Thus an application Of the oldest and mos
worthless clay to an equally barren and steril
sand will often constitute soil of fair qualit
il not fit to grow crops at once; at least yer
ct to receive small modcum Of manure wit
the greatest possible advantage; or peat upo
clay. or mari upon chalk nay in fact, nearl
every mixture short Of sand upon clay, whic
seems to be of very little service.
g. Phosphoric acid will be- especially in
state Of slight ixation, highly beneficial to a
most every soil; simply because this is mate
rial Of which the whole process of agricultur
appears to denude the land
Thus, soil the most worthless, barren peat
and blowing sands, are made to grow the ine'
green crops by the issue Of vitriolized bones @
Of gusno.
8. A general manure, consisting Of ammoni
and potash, with amixture of carbonaceov
matter, ifin high state Of solubility, will a
most invariably produce moderately goo
crop in any soil whatever.
This appears to be owning to their enablil
the plants to take up their proper quantity
the other mineral matters in the soil, and so
fOrdlarge leaf organization for drawing the s.
plies Of the needed carbonc acid gas from t
atmosphere.
7. A succession Of the same kind of manu-
will, after possibly q second application, alive
tend to produce less and less sensible results
improving the crop.
Few manures contain all the elements net
eddy plants. Guano seems 10 be by far
best general manure, but it is quite possil
that in time IL may be found necessary to apl
some other, to keep up the proportions of ST
ina in the SOIL
0. In soils where the manure rapidly dist
pears, from want Of power to absorb its b
qualities, small and frequent application
preferable to larger and more remote syste
ofdressing:
When the soil can hold the manure only
short period, it is manilestly best to give i
the plants in the quantities they can readily
similaie.
.. Manure should always be applied in
degree Of Gxalion most easily dissolved By
soircr the plants. A second application
better than too much at on:c.
eege o.
- 81 s6Farmers Work.