American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-04-01
CITYOF LANCASTER.
Morning. April L, 1855
Prom the Ohio Farmer.
SOILS. MANURES.

No one can form any correct estimate OF
the capabilities of given soil for the sus-
teuance of given population, without be-
coming acquainted with the philosophy Of
manures.
Fsrtlizing atoms are matter-and as
such are inle ,tructable. They may be
drawn from the earth, and incorporated in
plant. and removed from their original
location, and in the decompoition OF the
plant returned to the earth again. If they
have been removed from the farm on which
they were organized into plants, their re-
mova impovershes that, and enriches the
soil on which they are consumed.
The soil. naturally, does not contain one
part, in thousand, of the atoms, in an a
vailable condition which nature requires
ip forming plant. This is an important
fact that every farmer should know-how
small a number OF atoms the soil contains
available Tor the growth of plants, and the
necessity, of course, of outstanding them
most ecor omically. A change in this mat.
ter, or atoms, forms plants-a change in
the plants form manure, or fertilizing at
1ms. By the decomposition Of the plant,
the fertilizing atoms are returned to the
earth. to be again employed in producing
another plant; and thus an endless cycle of
production and decay is constantly going
on. Not particle Of matter is created,
and none lost.
Thus, an atom of potash that aids in or
ganizing the elements Of water and carbon
into starch, in a kernel Of corn, this year,
ma, by the return of the elements of that
kernel TO the earth, ir the form Of manure
perform of manure, perform similar func'
ton every season for thousand years;
and in all its changes and combinations, il
remains an atom Of potash, and will re-
main so as long as matter exists. If this
kernel of corn is sold, and removed from
the farm, the soil loses the atom of potash
and is that much poorer for the pi reduction
of another crop Of corn.
By attention to this fact, (that the atoms
Of fertilizing matter drawn from the earth
must be returned to it again. the farmers
of England have raised the average crop
OF wheat from sixteen to thirty~two bush
els an acre. Where they have been re.
moved by the sale Of the crop, or lost by
bad husbandry, they must be restored by
guano, or other foreign substance.
Only one tenth Of the dry, solid matter
Of plant is drawn from the earth-tht
rest is drawn from the atmosphere. Ma
nure enables plant to draw more ailmen
from the atmosphere and the earth, than i
could without such aid. This is the rsa
son why clover, peas, and many Other
plants, are called rsnouating crops. They
do not create particle of new matter, bu
only combine, in their own organization
sunlight. heat, wster. atmospheric air, gas
es, and minerals. These rotting, or oon
sumed as food, will restore to the land, no
only what is drawn from it, but also give
to it sunshine, heat; water, carbonic acid
and other gases drswn from the atmos
phere.
Insthis way, ten bushels of corn, fed t.
iatening hogs. cattle, or sheep, if all tn
solid and liquid manure is saved, and ad
ded to the stalks and cobs on which
grew, will prodce twsntp bushels. But t
do this, all theliquid, as we'll as the soil
manure. must be saved, and judiciousl
applied.
1t is on this principle, that one hundre
pounds Ofbird-dung [guauo will produc
three hundred pounds OF wheat, and fv
hundred pounds Of corn. Gypsum con
tains but about eighteen and half pc
cent. Of pure sulphur; but it enables tn
clover plant to extract twice that amour
from the earth, by extending its roots int
the subsoil.
The philosophy Of manuring thus b'
comes an important branch of agricultur
learning; and sfarmer can feed ten timc
as many people on his firm, as he can Off
as in the export of the food abroad, h
loses the fertiliEing atoms that were draw
from II in the growth of the plants.
On larger scale: No State, or countr
that exports largely the'material for brea,
stuffs and provisions; can long support