, 1860-01-09

We print in another column an extract from |
a letter from the e1nincnt chemist Licb;g, to |
the equally celebrated osricu1turist, Mr.. Nc
chi, on tho subject Of manures-tleir ncccEsi-
ty and tho suo depreciation and ;impovcrish.
,nent If the soils Of a1l agricultural countries
Under the system now universally prevalent Of
taking OF crops, aud returning 10 adequate
equivalent to keep up the productive power o
tho land Licbig looks to the great clties, u1w:
tho great points Of wealth, for the supply Ct
the needed rnanurcs, The sewerage systems
Of the great towns arc now constantly wasting
vast quantities Of matter which Slight to DO
returned to tho lind from whence it canlettto
resume It's place in that chemical smasqic icr-
ado Of elements which saay be made toYur-
sue its beneficent circuit, through an unvaty-
ing round Of fertility, health and life, |
It should not, however, be understood, frnn
tbe'terns Of aIr. Licbigs letter, that this SUBJ
ject is a new one. Intelligent and eminent en-
giuecrs hare been at work at it Tor years jim
iu England. The Importance Of utilizing tie
sewage Of cities has been fully recognized
also in this country: It would be beneficial
ina sanltory as well as agricultural point tof
view, and great efforts arc being made, and
are still continued to produce the desired re-
Ftlt. Two great obstacles stand in the way,
which it vii! probably tako 4 good while yet
| 10 overcome.
Tie first Of these is the expensive nature o
the mechanical and chemical mean. yet pro.
posed to collect, dcodorizc, dry and transport
! the sewage. -
The second is the fact that as Lcibig says
"the majority Of the turner's do not know
"tte extent to which their own interests arc
concerned in this matter" Wpfncy that tlis
hitter obstacle will 10 the arder Of tie two to
overcome. Tie e1uberant fertility Of our llli-
nols soils seems inexlauslble. Our farmers
are like young :pendthriits, just come into pos
setsion OF estates, which they squander with
reckless profusion. II after Us comes the
deluse, let the after generations do tic best
they can with their old boats." Even ou.
friend johnson, III lis interesting report on
farming in Illinois, which we published tic
other day, did not impress upon us tho ;,npor.
tance Of returning to the soil those elements 81
fertility which we arc constantly taking away
in crops. Perhaps lie thought 'oae thing al
q time is enough, II and SO postponed the sub
joct Of nanures till it shall have become sill
moEc Important and urgent than it is now. III
may. indeed, not he greatly alarmed at th1
prospect OF IN early exhaustion Of the soil o
many Of our farms. Tic shallow scratching
Of tue surface SO often practiccl leaves undis
turbed and unrcmovcd the greater portion q
the true wealth Of the soil-to lie used By atlt
By, BY more thorough and exbausting tillagc
So far as our city is concerned, we arc in
position to take advantage ofwhatcvcr discoye
ries aud Improvements may result from the el
forts now making in this important matter
The present state Of knowledge on tic suffice
Of the necessary engineering works. will no
justify the adoption Of any system for the utl;
zing Of the sewage-cspecially III the abscuc
Of any demand for tho products Of such sys
tem even at the most moderate prices.
In the meantime we invite the attention {
j: our citizens and Of Intelligent farmers to til
subject, and We shall be glad to receive an.
:! practical suggestions which may arise frot
:, careful Investigation OF thought, upon matte
l. Of such unusual interest
We feel confident that the time will CON
when Tie dcmard for tue improvement sug
ges'ed in Mr.. Liebig's letter will he great
:; stronger than it now is-and when, also, tia
demand will be met By practicable plan. aris
: ing oat Of the efforts making in tho old cour
!, tres, combined with tho results Of our orn cs
perience and inventive ingenuity.