The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-17
Fertilizers.

With the return Of peace we may i 90"
ably hope for the gradual revivai OF
cultural prosperity. AZ far AZ we can loA"'
the farmers are diligent In MAKING "EfasSe
ment. for ,he cultivation Of q large preao'u Vi
,.ra ,h,. voar. and the dennead Tor the Ter
.nS.Sa..nion were 10 popular in former years
.riaence that the spirit of Improvement
- e. from being extinguished. The CHIEF
as.,..,e IN the way of their being brought
,n,o rererol use again Is the scarcity Of money,
ar az those articles of produce which are
.ouixa,ent to money. The merchants cannot
AFFORD to await the i~ngathering Of another
crop. and the farmer is unable TO borrow In
anticipation of IL. Itis perhaps just rs well
rs IL is, for IL would be hazardous to incur
obligations mt a time like this, when there is
20 much uncertainty resting on the affairs OF
the country, especially In regard to the matter
Of labor. We would therefore caution every
farmer to feel his way carefully, and on no
account to involve himself by contracting
debts Which there is not n moral certainty VI
Is being able to meet At maturity.
From long observation and experience, now
ever, we cannot but regard the indiscriminate
use of guano rs unremunerative, and actually
hurtfui 70 the soil. There are many crops to
which it may be applied with advantage, but
IL is only when used in connection with proper
SUGGESTIONS and rest for the soil that II can
form the basis Of any system of progressive
Improvement. 1t is better adapted TO tobacco
and cotton than TO any other money crop for
the reason that these prime staples always
command good prices, and yield a larger return
than any other product, according to the area
OF land in cultivation. A single acre Of either
has more money in IL than ten acres OF wheat,
as prices generally rule. For these crops,
therefore, the liberal use Of gnano may be
recommended, especially when mixed with a
good proportion Of farm-yard manure. For
fastening the growth Of tobacco plants in the
seed bed it is j Invaluable. Nevertheless, 1t Is
not a manure for tobacco Of fine quality. The
plant is forced into a large and luxuriant
growth, but the leaf is deficient in body and
richness, and wanting in the peculiar aroma
which distinguishes the best article. But
what it lacks in quality may be made mp in
quantity. Cotton is not liable to such nice
determinations and whatever will stimulate
its growth, and make 1t boil freely, answers
the purpose of a manure. A mixture OF farm
yard dung, however, or superphosphate OF
lime, or finely ground bones, by contributing
10 the production of seed-for the formation
Of the boil is the effort to produce eed-wi
enhance the effect designed.
From the thousands and tens of thousands
of tons of guano formerly used in Virginia,
year by year, the purchase Of which formed
such a heavy drain on our productive indus
try, it is doubtful whether q vestige of benefit
to the soil now remains, if, indeed, any ulti-
mate profit accrued to the farmer. As 1T acts
on the crop by rousing the dormant energies OF
the land, every observing farmer must have
noticed that an increased quantity was required
at every successive application to produce the
same effect, until ut length it almost lost its
influence. Land lis liable TO become guano-
sick as well as plaster-sick, or lime-sick.
The philosophy of a successful agriculture
consists in so managing the soil that the food
of. plants shall not only be preserved, but
gradually augmented. This is done by reseo-
ring in some other form an equivalent for what
has been distracted. The restitution may be
made in the form Of manure, clover, peas, etc,
with such auXiliaries of a mineral character
as experience has proved to be OF value.
Guano supplies mono of these elements OF
fertility: its action is to eliminate them and
offer them to the roots of plants. This effect
is indicated by the absence of even the natural
grasses after the removal Of n heavy crop of
wheat.