The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-11-05

on which our domestic animals leeu, OF \
stalk Of wheat which brings single grain q
seed to maturity, there are potashes and
phosphate If lime in the soil. The quanti-
ty especially OF the last named substance
may be very inconsiderable, SO small that the
ANALYTICAL chemist who has parcel Of that
soil under examination, will with difficulty,
If at all, be able to separate and weigh il
The entry in his note hook may be--phos-
phoric acid-a trace. whilst from stalk d
wheat We obtain statement considerably
different. There is no superiority OF phos'
phoric acid, the wheat stalk would say, in
that soil, yet found enough to meet my i'm
mediate necessities, as if you burn me, stem
blade and grain, aud proceed to analyze my
ashes you will readily discover.
The fact that these few substances are al.
ways found in the ashes Of vegetables, seems
to furnish decisive proof that they play an
important part in the economy Of the plant
and are essential to il, MS they also are, the
greater part of them, to snimals of different
races and kinds. OF the particular uses Of
each, and what changes are accomplished
through its agency, we are wholly ignorant.
1t is one Of the secrets Of the Deity, from over
which he may never permit human hand 10
lift the veil but in the mean time, we shall
do wisely in apply ing for our own advantage
the knowledge we have already acquired.
recaptulate, therefore, the facts to which
your attention is more particularly invited,
once more.
Potassa or potashes, as they commonly call
it in the market, phosphate Of lime, are found
to be contained in the ashes Of all or nearly
all the yegetableswe are in the practice of cul.
tivating in this country, { ON which we infer
that fnot absolutely indispensable, they are
very important and useiul to plants, and when
they e present in considerable quantity in
the soil, promote very greatly its fertility.
This is not mere speculation and theory. but
it has been fully established by experiment.
Fields that were utterly barren, and in the
soil Of which no phosphate If lime could be
detected, on receiving generous application
of that substance, have yielded abundant
crops. These two precious substances ex-
ist in small quantity in the soil OF North
Carolina, and in every part Of il, in the east
and the west, in every county, on every
plantation, on the surface, and at all depths
But here shall perhaps be met with an Oh
jectinn. or what use is yonr chemistry at
ter all You tell US that you have found out
that these substances are absolutely necessa-
~, indispensable 10 plants-that they are ev-
er,Mhere and nowhere-eyery where IN small
quantites-whilst there ave few il any ex.
tensiye and rich mines Of them. efwhst adj
vantage, then, can il be 10 Us to be advised
Of the important part they play III the yeget-
able world. Your Information is just about
as valuable as would be that of the physician
who, coming TO the bedside Of patient, should
tell him, that he knew what Was the matter
with him, understood his disease perfectly
well, and cVdld relieve him with ease, If he
could only forhish himself with the appropri-
ate remetlies-but unfortunately these were
at present, nowhere 10 be obtained. Just
so YOU tell Us that our sUils are, or may be-
come diseased-that sou know what medicine
must be applied 10 restsre them TO sound
and perfect health, but are silent about the
places where, or the methods by which, they
are TO be procured.
It's not to be denied that there is some
show Of reason in these objections. But they
NAV be met So far as the claims Of chemistry
and the question respecting the benefits cOn-
ferred by her upon agriculture are concerned.
By certain counter statements. five cannot
accomplish all that might be desired, We can
do something. We can suggest the erection
If bone mill in each county so as to make
the best aud most economical use that is pos
sible Of the small amount Of phosphate Of lime
We have already at our communicative can
recommend the must careful search amongst
the she'll limestones Of the low country for
masses containing an available per centagc
OF this precious substance. And finally, We
can warn our fellow-citiZens of the danger
Of permitting whatever stock We now have 81
neglect and waste think lean satisfy any
one " 10 will fnllnw fair and honest argu-
ment 10 its legitimate conclusions, and who
will adopt such conclusions as part and parcel
d hrs belief, that these Inv alusb.e substances
are contained IN larger proportion IN what
We commonly call me soll a. distinguished
IRON the sBbsoil, than al any other point thar
is within some five feet of the surface and
the use intend tn make Of this fact Is TO
press upon the farmers Of the State more
lllligent use than has hitherto been made 10
WITH itFOiINa UHeUdNNfN ~ nj lHf ultdH-
II their disposal. and rspecislly hill side
,iitehins and horizontal blowing, - tie on.
i mean. thev have u perpetustins the fer.
iility Of the fields they cultivate. | know
tery well that these are agricultural opera.
tian. which are faithfully attended to by some
few individuals. Ms object will be 70 show
that there j. reason ii Tie methods they en-.
play that il i 10 hurnbug which We recon.
meni. aud induce - many persons a. ! can
WIN cultivate rolling az broken land. "a
adopt the practre.
North Carolina, at The time tie white man
fir.t made lisspptarsnee IN The western shore
d The Atlantic aud tie Aboriginal Indian
vas its only iuliabitani, was covered all over,
a. il had been for ages, with a eontinuou.
flfesf Mi etatfIY .nrh lnreAf a. d INV