Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-06

For the Spectator.
Agriculture of Augusta County.

For the Spectator. =
Agriculture of Augusta County.
lNTRoDUoTIoN-ln taking a compre hensive
view OF the agriculture of any section Of country,
the SUBJECT rises before US under such lultiplic
lty OF features, that we are constrained 80 look at
II from several different stand-points.
f~st-We must glance briefly over its history
at least ia: enough to learn how long and by
whom its lands have been titled. Thus alone
can we determine (experimentally at leasD the
probable durability of its soils; and thus alone
can we lind out to what kind of tillage they have
been subjected. Every naked and quilted field,
1t is true, tells for itself sad story of long ne
glect and hard usage on the part of its former
or present owner; but to reach the real and ulti
mate cause OF lis dilapidation and ruin, the cir
cumsfances which have surrounded its cultiva-
tors must be brought up in review.
Secondty-The Geography OF our survey must
not be neglected. Latitude, elevation, general
character Of surface, with some other natural
features, have great influence in determining eli.
mate, length of seasons, and, consequently the
kind OF crops to be cultivated with profit.
Misunderstanding bears more intimate rela-
ton to the agricultural capabilities of q country
than is generally supposed, The soils OF up lands
have generally been formed by the breaking
down and Glsintegration OF the rocks upon which
they rest. The air, rain and frost are the agen-
cies through which this work OF pqverization is
carried on. Some portions OF the mineral mass
have been slowly dissolved out and carried off
by rains, While Others have been left to iniDgle
with decayed and decayng vegetable and ami
NAL substances, and thus form the surface soil OF
the hills; meantime the freshets have been
sweeping down parts of these pulverzed and en-
riched collections, and spreading them over the
valleys and low grounds, as aluvia soils of va
riable quality. The character of alluvials must
depend entirely upon the geological character OF
the sources from which they originate. The O.
rgnal fertility of every variety of land is, of
course, greatly influenced by the quality and
quantity of the mineral and organic ingredients
composing the rocky masses from which it was
formed. The geological character of q country,
thus forms the basis as it were of its agricultq-
raj wealth and prosperity,
Touathsy--The mechanical treatment which
our fields have received at the hands of their
masters, forms q most important element in the
past history, present condition, and future pros
poets of our farming operations PlowiDg-l
mean thorough blowing in all cases, and drain
ing, where it may be wanted, are just as essen
tia to successful tilage of the soil, as the skill
full use of the hammer and the plane are to the
labors of the blacksmith and the carpenter,
EJthly-The growth OF crops Is eninently Q
chemlcag process. Chemical affinity, under the
control Of that mysterious principle called "Vi-
tality,n is ever ut work, celebrating the elements
of the soil, the air, and the rain, giving to every
stalk and root, and blade, and branch, that com
position and structure which best adapt these
several organs to accomplish the great end fol-
which they seem desigDed-the production and
support of flower anG seed. But all this goe:
not on without consequent exhaustion OF sail
Every busllel of wheat, every hogshesd of to-
bacoo every ton of hay, and every bale of cot
ton sold, carries with it portion OF potassa, lime
phosphoric acid, and other mineral matter. Eve
ry fatted OK carries with him good many pound:
of phosphate of lime, which came from the sol
on which his food was produced" These Oft
repeated demands upon the strength OF the sol
must ultimately bring about state OF exhaus
ton, even to barrenness unless the same chem
Cal substances thus removed are again restored
in some form OF fertilizer. The kinds of manure
then, that have been, are now, and may hereaf
ter be applied with profit to our fields, constitute
o very important feature in our husbandry.
Si1thly-The products of the land-the staple
crops, with the proper modes Of tillage adapted
to each-the harvesting and marketing; and the
rotations by which they follow, or ought to fol-
low one another, all enter largely into any true
picture we can draw of an agricultural region
The fill up the view; especially of spch eopn
ty as Augusta, the stook-the powerfully mus
cuar studs OF horses, which do 80 much to make
blowing an efficient objectionable richly pro
ductive mich cows, aud the splendid herds 0
grazing bullocks, roaming quietly over the lux
prant pastures, or reposlng azily in the pleasac
GUNNER shade, must have their PLACE in the fore
ground, must stand out prominently in the pic
ture.
With this general outline before US, we may
now proceed to bring up more in detail the az
ricultural pecuarities and resources of this, ont
of the most interesting and important counties
the State. Let US now see what she has been
what she is, and what she ought to be.
Sept. /, 1869. }. l. CAMPBELL.