The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-11-20
Ansbandry.
Baron Liebig's Warning.

The Baron Won Liebig is one of the leading
chemists of the age, very able and learned
man, and philosopher, but with all his wis
dom and learning he fails to come to right re-
suits when he reasons from false premises In
his serious scientific works he assumes for
truth the constantly repeated assertions of SUI
per6cial observers that the great State of Vir.
GINA, upon whose untold resources of physical
wealth scarcely an impression is yet.made, is
an efete, worn. territory, serving thecivilized
world as fit warning against the folles of i'm
provident culture. Let us see what he says
upon this matter in his Familiar Letters on
Chemistry"
SIS it possible, after so many decisive in
vestigations into the original elements of ami
mails and vegetables, the use of alkaies, of lime
and the phosphates, any doubt can exist as to
the principles upon which rational agricul-
ture depends. Can the art of agriculture be
based upon anything but the restitution of
disturbed equilibrium Can it be imagined
that any country, however rich and fertile,
with fourishing commerce, which for centu-
ries exports its produce in the shape of grain
and cattle, will maintain its fertility, if the
same commerce does not restore, in some form
of manure, those elements which have been
removed from the soil, and which cannot be
replaced by theatmosphere? Must otthe same
fate await every such country as has actually
befauen the once prolific soil Of Virginia, now
in many parts no longer able to grow its sta
pie oductions-wheat and tobacco?"
Baron Liebig is perfectly aware of the fact
that there are cultivated lands all through Eu-
rope yielding abundant crops, which we're cul-
tivated for centuries before America was dis
covered. He should remember that in all that
time there has been continual necessary waste
of "those elements which cannot be replaced
by the atmosphere" Take the mere waste of
the sewage of the great cities, what an enor-
nous drain (going on for accumulated centu-
ries) has IL made of these elements. Yet We
suppose the most fertile lands of European
countries are those which have been longest in
cultivation, and which are bearing now the
densest population; which are yielding up con-
tinuaIy the most, and wasting the most Of those
elements which Baron Liebig says must be res
tord. He has before his eyes this loss, and
implores those who have been carrying on the
wasteful processes for thousand years, to be-
ware lest the same fate await them that has
actually befallen the once prolific soil of Vir-
ginia."
This is a compliment, indeed, to the energy
and industry of the people of Virginia, that
in so short a period comparatively, and with a
very sparse population, they have been able to
do what the toiling millions of Europe have
not been able to do, but are only in danger of,
if they fail to be directed by the lights now set
before them.
The whole process of American agriculture
has been apty termed "skimming" opera
ton. 1t has taken off the mere surface accu.
mutations of the soil-apparently, indeed, its
cream and richness.
The truth seems to be that the deficiency OF
such worn lands is caused by the burning out,
the consumption, of the vegetable mould which
was merely superficial, and not by the exhaus-
ton of its mineral elements The proof is in
the fact that the restoration of vegetable
mould, by the mere opening of the soil to the
action of the atmosphere, or even its own
growth without the aid of the plough, restores
its fertility without any adding of mineral mat
ter Clover, peas and other such crops, give to
it only what the atmosphere furnishes, and fer
tilty is revived The exhaustion has been
only of that which is inexhaustibie, and may
be cheaply replaced by ordinary intelligence
under the now common lights of agricultural
teaching. american Farmer.