Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-18
To rur SrArr AaRIcuLrrn.- Rrnnar.


logical Survey under my charge, is the examination
Of the soils OF the State, with view to their i'm
provement, greatest production, &c. and as the con
dition Of the survey Is now such as TO make this
object most prominent aud most important, think
1t proper TO inform you to what my plans and la
bors, with reference to this feature of the work,
have been, aud of what propose they shall be for
the future l trust that my views and my labors
hitherto may meet with your approval and that
hereafter may have your cooperation and encour-
agement. 1t affords me pleasure to know that your
attention has been already called TO this subject
At your last biennial meeting the following resou-
lions were passed:
Whereas, The agricultural interest of the coun-
try is paramount to all other interests; and where
as, the common system Of tlling the soil is rapidly
exhausting its fertility; and Whereas but few of the
farmers Of the State have the means of ascertainng
by scientific analyses of their Soils their defcien
cies in those properties necessary to enable them to
apply the necessary fertilizers to 10 the best adyan
tage. Therefore
'RcsoiUed That careful analysis of the soil in
every county Of the State and in various localities
Of every county, with a full report of component
parts, and with full suggestions to the defeien-
ces Of the soil in the various localities, and the
remedies TO be provided in order TO supply the
nutrition needed to support and stimulate the
various crops is regarded by this Bureau as
one of the most important and valuable services
which the State Geologst can render TO the general
interest of the State.
"ResoiUed That the attention Of the Legislature
is respectfully called this subject, and TO pro-
vision to increase the salary of the Geologist so as
to afford reasonable compensation for the increased
service suggested Biennial Report, 1856, p. 12
The facts stated aud suggestions made in the
above preamble aud resolutions meet, in the MAN,
with my hearty concurrence. The Importance OF
such work is fully appreciated. Hitherto l have
been required to devote the most of my time and
attention, as an end, to the development and sluci
dston of the mineral wealth of the State. This
part OF my work is, however far advanced being
nearly ready to be reported upon inally) that the
greater part of the time now be devoted to the
Soils &c. Nevertheless, from the very first, have
always kept in view the agricultural interest, and
trust that already much has been accomplished in
that direction. In fact, the very preliminary
work required in the former case is necessary in the
latter: a knowledge of our minerals, and such a
knowledge of soils, will lead to general ben
ehcia results rest upon the very basis that is
a knowledge Of the geological formations Of the
State And permit me here, gentlemen, before pro-
ceeding to speak of the plan actually pursued and
Of what has been accomplished, &C., to notice. very
briefly, how this is, and further the views that
have Influenced me. In the first place, the forma-
lions by disintegra ion, weathering, &c, furnish
the inorganic materials of the Soils and hence, in
great part, deieriorate their nature.
The connection is direct and need not be dwelt
upon here The common language Of the farmer
when he speaks of rhinestone SOIL" sandstone
SOIL" &C., is common sense proof of it; and when
we further recOllect that rhinestone" sandstone"
estate" &C., may each be divided into well defined
varieties, each having its characteristic SOIL the
connection becomes most intimate 1t is to the for
nation, then, that We must first look. general ag
rcultural survey on any other basis would be, in
fact, impracticabe. To commence. for instance,
the examination analysis &C., of the soils of the
State, without any previous geological classification
of those soils, beginning, say, with county and
analyzug, at random, the soils of all its localities
and then proceeding to another, and anayzing in
the same way, and then TO another, and so on
through the State, would be procedure almost in
termnable requiring many thousands of analyses
involving great expense Gf the analyses were in-
tended to be worth any thing and, moreover, en-
tirely unnecessary to the accomplishment of the
object in view.
But with the formations made out, and the areas
which they scverally contribute to the surface of the
State mapped off, we would find our agricultural
survey well advanced, and would have already a
map Of the soils The State would thus be divided
into natural agricultural districts each with It's own
general soil, about which much would be already |
known The number of districts differing in kind |
would be com raratively small, not more, perhaps |
than twenty, some Of them including, wholly or in |
part from six to dozen counties Each district /
would be unit in ITSELF having throughout the same
general agricul ura capacities and defects suited
t. the crops, requiring the same treatment the
same manure. &c, &c. A series of analyses and |
experiments could be instituted which would be pc |
culiarly applicable to district to its common /
soil and TO all the local notifications thereof pro-
dlced by physical causes or by long or unskillhl
culture. The work done in one county would apply
generally to the other counties of the same district
aud thus, in many cases. useless repetition of ex
pensive work would be avoided. The survey then |
would reduce itself TO the thorough examination of
about twenty kinds or fundamental varieties of soil |
including the study of all the notifications that each
has flo
Of natural cause, by culture.
The general character of the soil of a district !
having once been made out it will be easy BY few
well applied analyses to ascertain the essential ma
terials that have been removed by the too constant
cutivat of corn, wheat, cotton or any other ag
rcultural product-t will be easy, under these cir
cumsances to tell the farmer what his 4" old field"
must receive in order to be restored to its native
fertiityt will be easy to tell what course must be
pursued in order that the soil may not degenerate
&c. Finally it is evident how greatly this mode of
proceeding would facilitate and shorten the work
1t gives 1t too defniteness not attanable in any
other way.
With reference them to the agricultural interests
well to the mineral, and in accordance with |
the above views, my actual plan has been to make
out first the forHatons-to find out there characters
tompOsiOn, differences &C. TO trace out their limits
10 ascertain what portion of the surface of the |
ate each one, something like the pieces of mosaic
work, fOrm-to represent them accurately upon q !
m Up of suitable size, &C. Following this work or |
far possible, in connection with it, have aim
ed, IN the second place. to develop and elucidate on
the one hand, the useful mineral contents or pro-
ducts and on the other the agricultural resources
of each formation.
From this plan nothing has been permitted to d. |
vert me. In the prosecution of the work every |
county has been visited, ard most of them three or
four times, requiring than ten thousand miles
of travelling. In fine, the survey in which have 1
felt and feel little pride, and which desire to
brought to a Satisfactory termination, has been
pushed to the utmost land even beyond the utmost)
justified by the means placed at my disposal by the
State.
In reference to what has been accomplished it |
affords satisfaction TO say that the materials for
the ground work OF the survey are sufficiently COM
plete. Two years ago l presented map of the |
formations Of the State, TO the Legislature. Some
portions of that map were provisional, especially |
with reference TO West Tennessee. l will now be
able to perfect it. and will very be able to report
finally upon the formations it represents so far
they have any practical bearing. This will be too
an agricultural map-truly representing to the
eye, at once different agricultural districts of
which We have spoken In this way the improve,
ment of the soils OF the State generally is made
tangible matter. For instance the regions needing
attention most, can if desired be selected first and
investigated-their DEFICIENCIES pointed Out-the pro-
per remedies suggested &c We're it not for extend
ing his letter TO undue length l would point out
by way of examples, some OF those districts and
their agricultural characters, far ascertained,
but this | must defer to another occasion. So far
the geological classification of the State is
the work is done, or, least is ready
be wrought out in final report. Il mostly remains
to complete the work by special analyses.
As another result bearing directly upon the inter
ests Of agriculture, might speak at length Of the
mars of the State, which have been found to be
more abundant and better than they were known to
be before and about which new and Interesting
facts have been ascertained, but this too we must
d .er. The work only of a few weeks will place
them too in a condition to be reported upon finally.
We need not speak here OF the progress Of the
survey with reference TO our mineral resources.
This will be done soon, on another occasion. It is
sufficient 10 say, we have, in fact already said,
hat this portion of the work is so far advanced
be entirely subordinate to the agricultural portion
SO that wAile am in the field osecutng the latter,
The first be completed far as is necessary for
the interest Of the State. Should the Legislature
see fla TO continue me in the Office l now hold for