Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-08-25
Fla scion Rules the Day,

1dScAOll MULES Cu0 Lay.
Evenin Agriculture fashion reigns SUI.
preme. The whole country for several
years has run mad with the fashion of
using Guano as simulent and fertilizer
of the soil. Millions upon millions Of dol
lars have been sent TO Peru and the Islands
of the South sea for this manure, making
other governments and their agents vastly
rich at the expense CT our already most ex-
hausted soil, while we have in our own
country, and many Of US upon our own
premises, as great stimulent, and far
more permanent improver-Lime. 1t is
now fast being admitted that guano is bul
temporary stimulant lasting at farthes'
but two or three crops. Unless care il
taken to leave upon the soil considerable
portion of the increased crop il will re.
lapse into a far worse condition than il
was before. lis introduction has given a
revenue to foreign governments. and en-
ploymcnt TO their vessels and agents,
while our resources have remained DOR
mant and our labor unemployed.
Lime has for centuries been used IN
England and on the Continent Of Europe,
and for many years in the middle ard
New England States, and recently i'll por-
tons of Virginia, as az improver, with
great success. Is effects upon the soil are
said TO be seen for twenty, and even fol-
thirty years, by the best English Writers
on agriculture. Lime can be obtain
cd fur cheaper than guaEo, and lis supply
Is iHexhans able.
What change would be produced in
the business relations of this country and
its prosperity, if the millions Of money
which are yearly sent out o. the country
to purchase guauo were employed III man
ufactuIing Time in lis vast mineral re-
gions. What field for labor, enter
prise and Improvement! Our rocky
vaies and hills would soon lesouna with
the hum of industry. Villages and towns
would spring up in our nisist,and business
ofevery description would flourish. Instead
Of the rail roads being freighted with i'm
ported manure from foreign lands, they
would groan under the exported improyer
from our own homes which would bring
III an ample return. And our own Vif-
ginia, although possessed of more mineral
wealth than any other State IN The Union,
and especially itch IN the best article Of
lime the world ever produced, is now, and
has for years, been engaged in importing
lime from Maine and other New England
States, who not untrequently steal some OF
our negroes as return freight. We have
long been prating about building rail roads
and developing the resources OF the coun-
try, and now that we have roads, let us
urge the development. There are many
portions Of cur State which can never
grow wealthy by agriculture. There is
not sufficient soil to make it profitable.
But we have minerals. which if wrought,
would convert upper Virginia, into as
thriving condition as Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. Why can we not have in
Virginia our Lowells. Burninghams, &c.,
when we have more of the elements of
wealth than our sister States Why is
it that almost every implemen! OF husband
ry and in me chanics, we use, must be i'm
ported, when we have the materials at
home in great abundance? Is it because
we have been accustomed TO rely upon
others fer everything we have instead Of
them for ourselves Are
we in condition for non-intercourse with
an, body; We must. learn soon to de-
pend upon ourselves, and turn our resour-
ces 10 account, or else we will ever remain
hewers Of wood and drawers OF water for
others, without the ability Of helping our
selves.