Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-12-08
r,,. pro.rass,on of Primaries.

he
ten upon by Judge French, in a late number OF the
Neav England Farmer. We take from the article the
following extract - =.
An substances in nature are said to be composed of
sixv-four smpes, which we first or primarily lind IN
rocks The theory then s that these rocks IN the lapse
f ooe have been broken and away and from their
debris soils have been formed. Next, we ind those
same substances in vegetables, and finally, IN animals
the same so far the chemist knows but changed or
rooressed as the plants plainly tell Even the MI
acr0cope which shows ees and sea serpents III
Cochiuate water, and hrnOceri on the surface OF ngS
which can detect at glance the different KINDS oiOou
and almost discern the oxygen IN the atmosphere can
see no difference between these two kinds OF phosphaes
But the plants with their instincts sharper IMAM man
reason and more subtle than chemists tess ueclue tat
for their food the one far better than the other
is this so? W, Lou boox Co.. oo-,ou,1
ar dcconrsnG npon this topic through the Working
Farmer and before the New York Farmers Club
His theory is that the elements which we may lind APP
parently Identical in the rock and IN both the vegetable
and animal matter, are first taken up by the lower Or
ders of plants like and icbens, that they have
thus progressed STEP and that the decay of those
lower plants those eemeT is may now be suited to
the constitution of plants of higher order and so on,
till passing gradually upward they form part OF the food
of animals, including man. and thus become conStltu-
ent part of flesh and blood. Having titus progressed,
perhaps having again and again constituted part both
of vegetable and animal substances those elements
quire aptitude for such organization and SO are the
more readily taken up anew to be wrought into new
structure lust grape cuttings buried vineyards from
the best nourishment for the vne and eggshels
found by hens the most convenient substances Of which
to make shells for new eggs.
In the Working Farmer of April 1855, Professor
NaDes clearly states his theory which we have ATTEMPT
ed briefly to Indicate He there states known facts
that if apply quantity of bullocks blood to the soil
it proves powerful fertilizer, whereas if apply the
exact equivalents, far chemistry tell US, taken
from the primary source of rock and dissolved the effect
onIc ,ba+o
of lime made from bones, and the same amount of min
era phosphate the bone phosphate will prove by far the
better Yet the chemists analysis finds the
mineral phosphate taken from the rock at Crown Point
Lake Champlain and other places, in various parts of
the world identical with the phosphate from bones and
sets them down as of equal value to the farmer.
PhOspbates have no value for agricultural purposes
unless taken from organic life, like the blood aud bones
of animals The phOsphates from the phosphate rocks
and volcanic deposits miscaled guanOs although ground
and treated with suIphurc acid have value ferti
zers and cannot be absorbed into the higher class Of
plants such as now required Tor the OF men aud
animals They must first be taken by up chens and mos
SeS and be progressed by them way which ChemiS
try as yet has failed discover, and their decay
and deposit of their phospaes in the SOIL be absorbed
by higher class of plant for further progression and
through natures laboratory, until we find the pro-
gressed phosphates occupying the bones of animals
FEEDING STOCK.-NO tanner can doubt, we think,
that the system of stock management which obtains in
this country Is very loose One llndeed 1t merit the
title of system" We doubt if it is a system, unless
it be systematic OOseness not to say sovenness. 1t is
true we urge the Importance of keeping stock far
We believe it essential to its continued prOduc-
tveness. But no farmer who has not used pencil,
kept stock account, knows the amount of hard cash
his stock of cattle sWinde him out OF. Talking with
farmer the other day. who has had experience
as stock grower we asked him his stock 10 the spring,
and the manure made during the winter would be likely
market at price which would the value Of the
food given them, the labor and care bestowed upon,
and the interest on their market value to-day. He
doubted if it would, but didn't know. We fear there
are a good many farmers who do not know, much less
consider the fact yet persist IN wlnerlng and summer
ing stock that is direct tax upon them. 1t is mat
ter to think about and calculate upon. heard of
cattle are not always profitable as manufacturers OF
manure simply In very many instances the cash they
would sell for would purchase and the labor expended
in taking of them would prepare more than double
their value of manure. This is not eXtravagant
sertOn, especially country where little
valued here. There one two points to be
sidered in the of stock. Unless you fancy
BREEDER and sell at fancy prices it is not profitable to
keep any animal that is not constantly improving or
yielding you a in the shape of milk, in the
case of sheep, wool, increase of the flock 1t is
good animal that pays the and cost of keeping
and interest market value either by direct product or
advance in value We do not assert there such
animals, but do assert that in proportion to the
whole number in the Northwest, they are few. An
animal should improve constant we speak of neat
catte-and where the point has been reached beyond
which, the improvement costs than it comes to- il
is safe to sell at And that point is nice tC
discover 1t is attracting the attention of the best
breeders and feeders in this country and elsewhere
Science is looking after it. How to supply an ANNA
with such food, and in such quantities as to insure the
largest amount of increase with the smallest possible
loss, is matter to be sought outa problem to solve.
The Spanish mackerel, says the New York Journa
of Commerce, is excellent table fish to south
ern waters-One of the most beautiful of the Species
afording sport to the angler. 1t is usually aker
by the trolling line Until recently it has not beer
found in this vicinity but within the past three fou
years individuals of the species have occasionally beer
caught hereabOuts though the number taken is very
small We learn, however, that within the past fort
night we have been favored with unusual visitation
OF this delicious fish, circumstance that has induced
the belief that it has so far changed its habits t.
promise the pleasure of its presence in the future
An ang Ter of some repute, while at West Point slOr
time SINCE observed certain parties catching with gOO
success species of fish of which they ignorant bu
which he discovered to be the veritabe Spanish mack
ere Perceving that the fish was feeding the sur
face, and frequently eaping from the water it naturally
occurred to him that they might be taken with the fly
Accordingly, arranging his fishing tackle he devote
himself to the task and with such that the resul
of two days effort showed total of more than sixty
five mackerel captured in this manner. The mode G
taking them was as much novelty and surprise, a
the fact that they found il the locality mentioned
Dlnrime Losses In November.
The number of serious casualties to American
ing vessels reported during the last month has not bee
equaled since the months of December and January
1867, when the number reported ffty-three i
December and seventy in January. The vessels report
ed this month as total losses and missing amount to fifty
i've OF ali classes The only north that approached tn
past one since 1856 April, 1857 when the tota
losses numbered ftytwO vessels, The casualties las