Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-02-23

silica (sano,) line, potash, &c, extracted
from the soil ; and what part was derived
from water, carbonic acid, and other CASE
Gus elements known to exist in the atmos-
phere. Wishing to repeat these researches
on larger scale before publishing. no ac-
count Of them has been made public.
The science Of feeding plants is in its
infancy and very little public encourage
ment has been held out to any one to de-
vote his time and money to investigations
Of this character. The little attention paid
to the feeding of wheat in England has re-
suited in raising the average product from
sixteen to thirty two bushels per acre. II
small share Of the talent and public pat
ronage Of this country could be turned to
the study Of vegetable and animal physio-
logy in their connection with farm econo-
my, aid to chemistry, entomology, agri-
cultural geology and meteorology, unques-
tiOnably the average Of our wheat, corn,
aud cotton crops would soon be doubled.
The most important point is 10 learn what
food, and what quantity per acre, will yield
the largest annual profit In addition to
this, it is desirable to know what sources
Of supply Of the raw material for making
crop, so far as it is laking in the soil, can
be most economically resortcd to by the
farmer.
His sources Of supply are numerous
among others, the subsoil and the atmos-
phere may be named as always available
on the poorest lands. 1t Is very rare, if
ever, that soil is 50 sterile that when
three inches deep, i, caunot be made six
and if six inches deep, it may not be made
twelve. If the reader will r,fect on tho
facts Of the case for moment, he will BE-
satisfied that the same resources in the earth
and atmosphere, ii rains, dews, q solar
light, and heat, which produce a little
mould on the surface, e1trac. little lime,
potash, magnesia, and soluble flint from
the subsOil, nay reasonably be expected
to yield something more of all these ele-
men,s Of fertility, if they are skilfully hus-
banded FROM year to year. But, if these
element. are all sold and sent off the farmy
or if wasted thereon, no matter how, an
increase Of produc;iveuess is impossible,
unless guano or manure from abroad is
bOugh. for home consumption. Vegetable
mould can only be increased by growing
ri-s'-, 80! -..~.. .i-- .i;ss--~-. plant. fnrrn
mould, when they decay, of very unequal
value in its adsptiou to the peculiar wants
Of crops. As the science OF feeding plants
rests on precisely the same principles AZ
that of feeding animals, and as plants alone
have the power to subsist on disorganizcd
such as air, water, sand, and
lime, it is important to grow such fertili-
ring and renova,ing vegetables as will best
furnish nutriment to the plants to be cul-
.ivated fer market. thus, one thousand
pounds of broomsedge, rotting on an acre,
will yield mould far inferior to :ha: Of
like weight Of pea-,ires. In some respects,
the sedge will have the advantage. 1t
will supply more soluble silica than an
equal weight Of the stems, leaves, roots.
and seeds Of the Pea plant, but much less
Of sulphur, phosphorus and organized azo,s
Or nitrogen. Theoretically, the slow rot
ling Of broonsedsc, followed by the nero
rapid decay Of pea-haulm, vii! prepare .
'oil for wheat or corn, better than to have
i entirely free from either sedge or pea
zine mould. Different forest leaves fur
lish mould as unlike in value as that FORM
ID from ro.ting cabbages and decaying
pine wood. But il a ton Of cabbsges or
,.oyer will form mass Of rich mould, it
will require something better than very
'ery poor land 10 grow either clover or cab
,age. They are both rich in sulphur,
and nitrogen, elements that
10 not abound in sterile soils.
1t is difficult to see how one can fairly
,esin to comprehend the natural capabili-
les of American soils, before he is famili-
II with the science Of meteorology and the
of manures. An acre Of land
ying in the latitude of Washington and
i. Louis has the capacity to produce near
y double the food for man or beast that
n equal a-ea in the centre Of Great Brit
ain possesses assuming the chemical COM
,osition and physical character Of the soils
o be alike in both countries, the fall Of
ain alike. and the only difference being in
be length of seasons and higher mean
and more sunshine in Ameri-
a than in England. There are few, ifany,
,lants which equal our maize or Indian
orn, in yielding large quantity Of bread
n a small surface. In England, it is iu,-
practicable to grow one good crop Of this
ereal in . year. In the District OF Co.
umbia, on choice land, nearly,i if not qnite,
,xo CROPS can be made in season. Sup
Dose the object was to produce milk Gan
valuable article Of foOd,) not
>o,r S,A