Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-11
From the Raleigh Sentinel.
4 the State GeOIo1iSf.

| GENTLEMEN BY way of postscript to 8
recent communication on the subject of ma
nures, enclose brief article on composts,
which was recently prepared as a general
| answer to enquiries on this subject which
are frequently addressed to me by practical
farmers in different parts of the State.
With the view of promoting the manu-
| tacture of manures in small way, by all
our farmers, and the saving of an enormous
amount of material which annually goes to
waste for want of little care and a little
| instruction, it is desirable to place in their
| hands few simple compost formule, ap-
| plicable anywhere in the State, and calling
| for only such materials as are generally ac-
cessible.
Here are two which should be prepared
| in summer or fall, to be used the following
| spring the materials may be either thor
oughly mingled and then thrown in heaps,
or laid down in alternate strata.
Formula. L. Peat, Il cord.
Ashes, =. 10 bush.
For ashes may be substituted twice the
quantity of mari, or of leached ashes.
Formula. 2. Peat, 3 cords.
Lime. IS bush.
Salt, III &C
| For peat may be substituted muck, leaf
mold, pond mud, &c. Dissolve the salt,
slake the lime with the solution, and then
mix with the peat, DC.
The following may be prepared in any
season, and in warm weather will be ready
for use in two or three weeks; over heating g
should be prevented by watering, and oc-
casional turning:
Formula 3... Peat, .........2 cords.
Stable manure, i cord.
This will give three cords, nearly as rich
as stable manure itself.
Formula Peat tlO 10 BUSH
Night-soil, :. ''
For night-soil, may be substituted the
same quantity of guano Peruvian), hen
manure, cotton seed meal, fish, fish -offal,
or any putrescent animal matter A dead
horse will convert cords of peat into ex-
cellent manure, sufficient to enrich an acre
of land.
Formula 3D.. Straw. 3 tons.
Ashes, .......3 bush.
Plaster. ....1 ''
Night soil,...5 &C
Salt, " Il" "
The result will be nearly equal to so much
guano. For straw may be substituted
leaves, weeds, potato vines, corn stalks
Chinese cane, &c.
Plaster is an excellent addition to any of
the above formula. To any of them also
may be added with great advantage yard
sweepings, scrapingS of hen house, smoke
house and privy, kitchen and chamber slops,
animal offal of all sorts, SCOT, ashes, waste
brine, &c; all of which are turned to val
liable account, instead of being allowed to
pollute the air by their noNious exhalations,
and to poison the wells by their teachings,
rs so often happens, especially in towns
These may seem small matters, but they are
not SO to those who look for the "causes
of things" and cannot be so regarded by
any to whom the health and wealth of so
ciety are not also such.
Perhaps you will not consider it an in
| trusion if 1 add few suggestions on the
subject of the revival of agricultural Socie-
ties in the State, and the best means of
promoting the ends which your Society has
in view.
I desire to call your attention to some
considerations, on the prOpriety of Organi-
Zing three subordinate Agricultural So
oieties, corresponding to the three natural
divisions of the State, viz Eastern, Mid
die and Western. These regions are as di-
verse. in their leading geographical, climat-
lc and agricultural features as if separated
10y half continent. The Eastern division
is characterized by the prevalence of level
or slightly undulating plains and by peaty,
alluvial and sandy soils the middle, by q
rolling and hilly surface and clayey and
gravelly granite soils the western by a
succession of lofty mountain ranges with
infinite cross-chains and spurs, intersected
and divided by narrow valleys and eleva-
ted piateaus, with various soils, generally
graVelly and open, often clayey. And
these differences are accompanied by eli
matte features quite as distinctive, the
western section being, in this respect,
as strongly diverse from the east
ern, as the latter is from New York.
And il is apparent that the agricultural
products, the modes and implements of
cultivation, the means and sources of fer
tilization-in q word, all those matters
which constitute the staple of the discus
sions of agricultural societies, must show
corresponding diversity. What interest,
e. 6. have the farmers of Buncombe in the
discussion and experimentation of marls
and peat, or in the cultivation of the SOUP
pernong, or cotton Aud on the other
hand, why should the farmer of Edgecombe
or Perquimans waste his time in studying
| the conditions of stock raising, or the man
ufacture of cheese, butter, &C.?
The suggestion 1 would make is, that
the leading farmers of the middle section
of the State-Mecklenburg, Guilford,
Orange, &c.-unite their influence and
efforts to form Society for the discus
sion and development of those points
| which are common to the farming inter
eStS OF those Counties, such as the proper
| selection and rotation of crops, the best
| methods of renovating exhausted soils,
the kinds. sources, manufacture, cost,
| transportation and modes of use of
| fertilizers, &C.; while a similar associa-
| ton of farmers in the East take up such
subjects as market gardening, the utiliza-
ton of marls, peat, &C., the cultivation of
| the vine and other matters of special i'm
portance to the agriculture of this region ;
while in the West they will naturally oc-
| cupy themselves with cattle, fruit, dairy
| farming, &c.
There would remain large residuum of
subjects, whose interest is as wide as the
limits of the State, which would belong to
| the proper province of the State Agricul-
tural Society. Among these may be men
toned agricultural education, the Agricul-
| tural College, the conduct of State Agri-
| cultural paper. the introduction of agricul-
tural implements and machinery the
manufacture, transportation and inspec-
| tion of fertilizers. the whole matter of i'm
| migration and labor, the requisite changes
| in our system of farming and the like.
You will no doubt agree with me that it
| is time to consider these matters in prac-