The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-02-17
From the Southern Farmer.
PRE- MUM ES AY
On Improving and Earichiag Poor Land.

~ u VI y vi II , y a
On Improving and Enriching Poor Land.
by DR.. R. a. PATTERSON, HALIFAX, n. c.
The modes by which poor lands are to be
enriched must, of course, differ materially
with the circumstances under which agri-
culture is pursued. Nor does it appear ex-
pedient to attempt in our essay the delinea-
tion of plans suited to all sections of country
and kinds Of production. The planter must
pursue different course Of Improvement
from the farmer and grazier, and these from
each other since the variety of productions,
locality, climate, &c., as we'll as the requisite
amount of labor, would render system that
might be quite practicable in one, entirely
unsuitable in another.
1t is presumed also that in the approval or
disapproval Of given system Of improve
ment, the amount of profit is to be taken into
the estimate, since no plan can deserve con-
sderation which involves great expenditure
than its profits. either present or prospective,
would justify.
The application Of manures must enter
largely into any plan of improvement, and
success will depend in great measure on the
Judgment eyinced in selecting and applying
them. But to attempt to specify and com
pare the merits of all the fertilizers which
have been presented to the agricuiturist for
experiment, would be an endless undertaking;
and indeed, had it been positively sacertain-
ed which one is the most valuable, consider
ing all its properties and advantages, great
as this would be, il appears of less real value
to the agriculturist than that he should be
al ,,..sh sbat, NJ nfr 4ka4
manner Of tillage, and the preservation and
application of such manures as are accessible
without direct outlay, SO as to effect the
greatest improvement consistently with a
fair profit.
\ II then il be true that the description of a
system Of Improvement for one division OF
agriculturists is enough for one essay, we
will confne ourselves TO the suggestion OF a
plan which appears to US expedient for to-
bacc0 planter.
We will suppose the plantation to be in
the condition in which probably nine etenths
of the lands in the tobacco growing regions
Of Virginia and North Carolina are to be
found, viz with the tobacco field Of greater
or less extent in good heart, having received
such putrescent and other manures as could
be collected on the premises since its settle
ment, and the remainder Of the arabic land
generally thin. except the low grounds which
are not yet worn down by severe cropping,
and the other portions Of the land standing
in the original growth, or in second growth
pines at various stages of advancement.
We would divide such plantation into
four fields, all containing about the same
amount of tobacco and other arabic land
designating them LIST, I'd, Sd and 4th.
Beginning with the lst-Plow deep in
winter or spring for corn and tobacco, the
portion designed for tobacco TO be chosen il
part Of the field where il had not grown
before for at least not recently, and receiving
such manures as can be collected on the
plantation, assisted, If necessary, by one OF
more of the concentrated fertilizers. No Op.
portunity for acoumulating manures from the
plantation should be omitted, and generally
il is most economical TO apply them imme
diately TO the land, aud not to form composts
! as thereby second removal is avoided
Peruvian guano pays well on tobacco; and l
is very surprising, when the effects and III,
constituents Of guano are so well understood
as they are at this day, that any should con
tend that il is not an improyer and NOR,
astonishing still that some should pronounc,
il an injury. II barn-yard manure, or e,eI
lime or ashes be applied, and succession o
crops be reared, the effects Of the manure vii
cease to be appreciable after while, anr
another application will be necessary. Th'
same remark may be made OF guano.
:. The above named manures are permanen
just in proportion to the quantity applied
The same is true Of guano. The constituent
: Of guano, though their proportions may b,
somewhat variant, do not differ material,
from those Of other manures admitted TO b.
permanent.
The difference appears to be this guant
being in q concentrated form, is more readi
!, ly and rapidly appropriated by the plant; an,
consequently, while its benefits may cease 4
be visible sooner under succession nf crops
! the action will be greater in proportion &
; the quantity applied, aud the results NOR
. conspicuous.
What Is ment BY q manure being per
mancnt improver Dose it mean that ther
are substances, one application Of which vii
impart Improvement TO land forever after
! wards; No agricuturist expects such . re
! suit from any application. III he apple
putrescent manures, lime or ashes, he know
{ that in order to preserve their good effect
. 70 the soil, he must either make future appli
2 cations of the same, or cultivate such crop
y and in such manner, as TO prevent the Ian
from returning TO its former or a worse col
: dition. And so Of guano. Many sections
ro,tntrv tuight he desiOnntsd as nruut ul m