Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-16

Love.
From the Southern Cativa;or.
Letter from NIr. David Dickson on
Commercial Manures.
Mr.. David Dickson, of Sparta, has
favored us with letter for publication in
the Southern Cultiudtor, in which he re-
plies to various letters of inquiry, received
from all quarters, upon agricultural topics.
Introducing the matter, he says: I" |
am quite unwell, and it gives me pain to
bend over the desk to write. | here an
nounce that I sc;U not 0n$,cer ony more
pirate letters. If the planting interest
will sustain an agricultural paper, what |
know on the subject, they can get free of
cost. Georgia alone, should sustain a
weekly agricultural paper, with 10000
subscribers. paying in advance. A month
ly is too slow for the times" There is
some truth in this. we should like to
communicate more often with our readers.
Guarantee 20 us that Georgia will furnish
one.tenth of that 10000 to start with,
and we will give you the Cu!tivator semi
monthly or even weekly, at q fair price
ButSouthern weekly agricultural journals
have thus far brought only loss TO their
projectors, and the prospect now is cer-
tain.y not more in their favor than form
erly. Until the country recuperates, we
shall have to be content to conduct q
monthly, consoling ourselves with the
fact that in a monthly, the matter is gen
orally more carefully got up, and more
to be relied on, than if hurried through,
as in weekly paper.-ED. So. CULr.
"A trip up the Georgia and State Roads
this summer convinced me that his State
lost at least ten millions of dollars Gy
misapplication Of labor. Even such years
as this, plenty can be made, by proper
management"
Then follows his answer toall inquiries
respecting fertilizers, &c:
EDIToRs SOUTHERN CULTIvAroR Fer
tilizers should be purchased as near first
hands as possible, for many reasons, such
as these: The planter should make the
profit himself; he gets the manure more
pure, as well as much cheaper; and if we
do not pursue this course, as money is
abundant North, all manures will be
bought up as soon as landed, shipped
South and sold at high rates. will give
you an instance. Last season, Peruvian
Guano was worth in New York and Bal,
timore, (the only places imported into,)
sixty dollars in gold, per ton of 2240 lbs.
Gold was worth l2S to $50 in green
backs. 1t was bought up BY traders, and
sent to Augusta, and sold there for $3.50
in green backs, 4or only 1000 lbs. Make
your own calculations as to the profit.
| am asked often, what kinds of manure
to purchase, as we'll as at what market?
As do not wish to act against any per-
sons interest, will simply give my ex-
perience. Peruvian Guano, and KIND
called Columbian Guono, are the only
kinds that have ever paid iq my hands.
When gave receipt several years
since, and published it in the Southern
Recorder, 20 use one half Peruvian and
the other Columbian Gaano, which was
mineral Guano, then considered this the
best preparation; but the Columbian
Guano has been exhausted for good ma
ny years-therefore, recall that receipt
| have no doubt but some of the phos.
phatic Guanos have some considerable
value; but they are held too high to pay
in my hands. Try them yourselves, at
first ona small, Or large scale, if you wish |
and test them on their own merits.
You will find some Guanos advertised
as permanent monures. WANT TO AVOID
THAT KIND, for think that it is true, of
some of them at least that when use
them, my crops do not remove them.
I prefer the kind Tilt wiU come 10 sec me
the first year, and bring a large interest,
in the form of cotton, corn, wheat, &c.
The true system in manuring, is to get
the manure back the first year, with a
living profit, and rapidly to improve the
soil up to its original capacity, and carry
it beyond that in the same ratio as the
increase. We are only tenants at wiH.
and have no right to use the soil an acay
to destroy its capacity TO maintain tile
present population, and its future In
crease. When the people understand the
difference in an acre of land that will pro.
duce 100 lbs. and one that will produce
500 lbs. of lint cotton-that this differ
ence exists in the present value of each
Of these two acres of land, we then will
begin to improve our farms.
As to ploughing and Cultivating, | only
have time to say now, plow from to Is
inches deep, and sub-seil every fourth
year; or better sub-soi onc.fourth eyerv
year. Then cultivate smooth, level, and
shallow the last plowing-not more than
onc-half inch in depth.
The great inquiry is, on what kind of
land to use Guano and other commercial
manures. | say use it on all lands you
plow or cultivate-or everywhere, except
in q hole Of water, or on rock.