The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-02-02
FOR THE R M Err.



We take from long article by cor
respondent in the New England Farmer,
the following extract, which we are sure
will be perused with interest by our ag-
ricultural readers
Every practical, observing tiller OF the
soil well understands that no guano, super
phospate or other nitrogenuus or highly
concentrated manures, can restore to the
soil the lost carbon, which has supplied a
succession of crops, with the essential ma
terials which enter into the fourteen ele-
ments of grain, fruit and grass. The true
principle Of agricultural science introduces
another system, natural, plain and alto
gether dissimilar. The forest must give
up her stores of carbon, (and she manu-
tactures a large surplus annually,) so
nicely elaborated by natures laws as to fix
its ammonia, and yet fitted for powerful
absorbent of liquid manures, with power
TO resist decomposition until brought in
contact with the roots of plants. The
swamps must yield up their store of veg
etable wealth, the rich inorganic materials
of surrounding hills and forests, to reunite
with the mineral salts too firmly fixed in
the soil to be washed away by the annual
rains. The organic laws of the universe
established by the Creator, for the gov
ernment of all the changes and formal
conditions of properties of matter, whether
IN crude mineral, organized or detached
condition, are as uniform and unerring as
the physical laws that govern the rising
and setting of the sun. As the demand
for carbon to form fat, muscle, cellular
tissue, bone, brain, hair and other por-
tions of the human body, and at the same
time keep up an animal heat of $50 night
and day, is very great, we readily see why
starch is so abundant in all plants used as
food for man or beast Starch contains
large amount of carbon, and the forests
and swamps of the old States are holding
the great bsIlk of carbon in store, to-day.
We must increase the productiveness of
rural labor by introducing into the pres
ent mode of farming more system in the
science of vegetable physiology.
Every one knows that new land, land
never subjected to cultivation, will pro-
duce in abundance all the crops which that
country or district is susceptible of pro-
ducing. Hence we are advised that the
forests and swamps of any hiily country
iANA1t itc NCSSIdOiC WCdlLh pCicucc HOW
comes to our aid, and teaches US how to
change a cold subsoil into warm, pliable,
productive, surface soil Practical expe-
rience has taught us that a good soil which
produces loo pounds of ripe wheat plants,
loses but 10 pounds Of its weight and sub
stance by the operation, S5 pounds coming
from the atmosphere. Science reveals to
us why it is that in combustion, respira-
ton and decomposition, an immense
amount of organized matter is dissipated
through the air-infused into plants by
atmospheric pressure, or gathered up by
the falling dews, rains and SHOWS, re-
turned to the earth and the roots of plants,
and thence by capillary attraction drawn
into the kernel and elaborated as food for
man and beast. 1t also gives the agri-
culturist power over heat, light, electric
ity, positive and negative,) chemical ac-
ton, air, earth and water, and enables him
to grapple with repulsive elements-cold,
subsoil water, Corrected by drainage,)
malaria, and other negative influences
which have baffled the unskilful farmer
tor years past. Now that the soil, in the
old States, Mas lost its natural productive
ness, thorough knowledge of agricultural
science is indispLtably necessary to ena-
hle the tiller OF the soil to compete with
those who till the rich field of the virgin
West