Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-29

pose to compare the chemical constitution OF
the surface soil only with that of the subsoll
q few feet below, or as far as the
roots of the forest trees reach, not with that
of the earth which has resulted from the de-
composition Of the rocks of the depth OF %
or 80 feet. This last may be superior in Its
adaptation to the punishment of vegetables
to the surface soil so that if a layer Of earth
two feet in thickness, coald he brought at
once to the surface, from that depth, through
out the whole of Wake county, it would be
rendered SO far as its capabilities for agricul-
ture are concerned, a richer county than it
is now. Some experiments on the earth
brought up from the bottoms of deep wells,
upon the discussion Of which | have not time
to enter now, have seemed to point in that
direction, and to warrant tie belief that IN
some future, Uery remote, age, men may be
drive n to the task of tunneling the hills, to
derive from them the means of providing tor
themselves--the necessaries OF hfe--that
they well then mine to obtain a virgin soil,
as they now do for silver and gold.
My main object has been to show that the
operation of hillside ditching (already in
use amongst many of our planters and far
mers) is as reasonable and sound in theory
us IL 10 lOullu W DC DGucHCldI III pILObANO ,
and to recommend its adoption by all whose
lands are in any considerable degree rolling
or broken. And / have been the rather led
to the selection of this topic, because it is an
improvement that is within the reach of all
persons as we'll those Of small capital, and
who have but little ready money, as the mer
of ample means of the farmer whose pos
sessions are remote and difficult of access, sc
that he cannot readily and easily supply
himself with foreign fertilizers as of th'
amateur agriculturalist here in Raleigh, wht
by the profuse employment of guano, pow
drette and superphosphate of lime, has bloa
ted his field into a sickly show of a fertility
which does not really belong to it. My oh
iect has been to benefit a little, if / could
the mdsses-to call their attention to tn
means of transmitting to the next generation
the soil of North Carolina, little if at all in
iured by the culture to which we have sui
iected it. 1t is q contribution which ever
good citizen may be expected to make to tn
public veal. especially, as the expense
time and labor, on a plantation of moderat
extent, is so comparatively inconsiderabl
But little direct, positive good, not niue
Increase of the returns his fields yield,
to be expected. It's objects is rath er Il
prevention of mischief and evil. If ii
valuable results Of It's adoption are not wi
messed, the opposite effect of it will be like
to render itself very distinctly visible, al
will be felt in the dim inished value assign
to his possessions by all who are acquaint
with their history.
And having ventsred to point out the q
ties of such as farm in a small way as W
as of others, may l also be INDUCED in a ST
gestion in a single particular for their benz
in relation to the prizes that are from year
year t. be adjudged here for excellencies
any kind. That their effect be to call into
istence the exact kind of improvement,
country from the characters Of its climate a
soil most needs, as best adapted to ats act
Q condition, and no others.