Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-16

From the above it appears that the mineral
and saline ingredients extracted from the soil by the df
ferent grasses cited consists in the aggregate, OF aka
line and earthly phophates but aSsimatcd IN very dlt-
ierent proportions by the respective plants named.
Thus We iud by contrasting lucerue with rye-grass,
that the former from the soil close upon $50 per
cent more Of these materials than the latter showing
that one species Of grass may be cultivated with adyan-
tage upon soil totally Incompetent TO produce the 9th
er without the agrcuturst can avail himself Of the
means TO correct the defect And the history Of all
ceut states csatl hes the ct that system Of cul
ture can compensate for the nordnate quantities these
valuable substances removed from the soil in remote
parts Of the country in the form of milk, corn, cattle, or
any other form the produce may assume without we re-
turn quantities equivalent those removed. As soon
the great ier,zing power of phosphate compounds
was known the attention OF many Of the leading scien-
tifc men Of the day directed towards discovering
source from whence permanent supply could be had
Aud at that time it currently reported that con-
siderable deposit Of phosphate Of lime existed in the
Spanish province OF Esremadurl but after personal
survey Of the deposit by DR.. Daubeny it found
yaabe 10 the purposes of British agriculture chiefly
arising from the expense of transport
Indeed various and extensive explorations have been
made bv many eminent professional and scientific gen.
emen throughout the entire range of the creaceOus
es of strata and although many of these deposits
aiued ThophOric acid except the phosphate fossils OF
Suffolk and Essex discovered by Professor lensOw, and
now extensively used as substitute for bones in the
manufacture Of superphOSphate OF lime little was effect
Cd 10 promote the interest Of agriculture And however
much an adequate supply Of mineral manure was felt at
that time its value in agricultural operations has very
much increased since the passing OF the Corn Law mas
much the farmer has been compelled, from the low
price OF grain his attention to grazing
And if attention is directed to the rearing and iatcnng
of cattle and sheep adequate supply OF earthly and
alkaline phophateS becomes more imperative, they
enter largely into the structure of all animals and
ccssarily form the most valuable portion OF the food
they consume For instance, phosphate OF lime forms
from 90 TO 90 per cent Of all the bone reared and
ported from the farm; and the alkaline phosphaes con-
stiue from 7OtO - per cent Of the ashes OF both flesh
aud blood also forming about so per of the ashes
of the most valuable food for cattle and sheep.
After chemistry had elected the important part assign
ed to these phosphate compounds in both animal aud
getabe life it will be admitted that plentiful supply OF
those ingredients is OF the greatest Importance to prac
cal agriculture And il is with that view that | now
point out the Island of Sombrero the of sup
PLYING these necessary requirements OF the day.
The Island Of SOmbrerO was visited as early as 1914 by
an English gentleman and again about 1925 on which
occasion report made TO the British Government
but it was not until $50 that the Americans discovered
this extraordinary deposit of phosphate gtaHO and al
took possession OF the island And since that time
large quantities have been imported into the Southern
States TO repleush the exhausted tobacco and cotton
fields and which has been attended with surprising eff
feet.
Since Sir r. l. Murchison's communication appeared il
YOUR Journal have had opportunity of examining
cargo of thousand tons discharged in the port of Lon
don, ex "Rochambeau," from which the accompanying
specimens are selected and equally rich in phospha
tic compounds those which Sir Roderck had auayzeC
from the same island varying from IS to 80 per cent
according to the nature and locality of the strata from
which the specimen is taken The geological formation
of the island appears to be marine and phosphate brec
cu and constitutes the most valuable source of minera
manure at present available to the agricultural require
ments Of the age and fully impressed with the belle
that great good will result from its peculiar properties be
ing generally known throughout agricultural districts
have ventured to submit these observations for you
consideration if YOU deem them worthy place in you
widey-crculated journal.
A MoDERN AGRICULTURIsT.