The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-08
Agricultural. A
Manures, COmpOsts, &c.

summer or TALL, TO be used the following spring;
the materials may be either thoroughly mingled
| and then thrown into heaps, or laid down in al
tasnate strata.
Formula / Peat. | cord.
Ashes, 10 bush.
For ashes may be substituted twice the guam
! tity of marl or of eached ashes.
Formula 2 Peat, cords.
Lime. bush.
Salt,
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, 6e
The following may be prepared in any season,
| and In warm weather will be ready for use in two
or three weeks over heating should be prevented
by watering, and occasional turning:
Formula Peat, cords
Stable Manure, cord.
This will give three cords, nearly as rich as
stable manure itself.
Formula Peat, 10 bush.
Night-soil,
For night-soil, may be substituted the same
quantity of guano Peruvian,) hen manure, cot
ton seed meal fish, fish-ofal, or any putrescent
animal matter. A dead horse will convert
cords of peat into excellcn. manure, sufficient to
enrich an acre of land.
Formula 8 Straw, 3 tons
Ashes, 3 bush.
Plaster,
Night-soi
Salt,
The result will be nearly equal to so much
guano. For straw, may be substituted leaves,
weeds, potato vines, corn stalks, Chinese cane &e.
Plaster is an excellent addition to any of the
above formule. To any of them also may be
a6Ha1 with oIu ,rd
scrapings of hen house, smoke house and privy,
kitchen and chamber slops, animal offal of all
sorts, soot, ashes, waste brine, &c; all Of which
are turned to valuable account, instead of being
allowed to polute the air by their noxious ex-
haatlons, and to poison the wells by their leach
ings, as 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 society are not ase such.
Perhaps you will not consider it an intrusion
if | add few suggestions on the subject Of ths
revival of agricultural Societies in the State, and
the best means of promoting the ends which
your Society has in view.
l desire to call your attention to some consid-
erstions on the propriety of organizing three
subordinate Agricultural Societies, correspond
ing to the three natural divisions Of the State,
viz: Eastern, Middle and Western. These re-
gions are as diverse in their leading geographi-
cal, climatic and agricultural features as if sep
arated by half continent. The Eastern divi-
sion is characterized by the prevalence Of level
or slightly undulating plains and by peaty, allu-
vial and sandy soils; the middle, by rolling and
hilly surface and cayey and gravelly granite
soils; the western by succession of lofty noun
tain ranges with infinite cross chains and spurs,
intersected and divided by narrow valleys and
elevated plateaus, with varions soils, generally
gravelly and open, often elayey. And these
differences are accompanied by climatic features
quite distinctive, the western section being,
in this respect, strongly diverse from the east
ern, as the latter is from New York. And 10
is apparent the agricultural products, the modes
and implements of cultivation, the means and
sources of fertilzation-in a word, all those mat
ters which constitute the staple of the discus
sions of agricultural societies. must show O cor
responding diversity. What interest have the
farmers of Buncombc in the discussion and ex-
perimentation of marls and peat, or in the cult
vation of the scuppcrnong, or cotton! And On
the other hand, why should the farmer Of Edge
come or Perquimans waste his time in studying
the conditions of stock raising, or the manufac-
ture Of cheese, butter, &c? l....-.
The suggestion j would make is, that the
leading farmers Of the middle section of the
State ,-Mccklcnburg, Guiford, Orange, &c.
unite their influence and efforts to form So
ciety for the discussion and developement of
those points which are common to the farming
interests of those Counties, such as the proper
| selection and rotation of crops the best methods
of rcnovating exhausted soils, the kinds, soux-
ces, manufacture, cost, transportation and modes
of use of fertilizers, &c. while similar as-
sociation of farmers in the East take up such
subjects as market gardening, the utilization of
marls, peat, &c, the cultivation Of the vine and
other matters ofspecial importance to the agri-
culture of this region; while in the West they
will naturally occupy themselves with CATTLE fruit,
dairy farming, &c.
There would remain a large residum of sub
jects whose interest is as wide as the limits of
the State, which would belong to the proper
province Of the State Agricultural Society.
Among these may be mentioned agricultural
education, the Agricultural College, the conduct
of a State Agricultural paper, the introductinR
of agricultural implements and machinery; the
manufacture, transportation and inspec.;on Of
fertilizers, the whole matter of immigration 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 practical way,
with view to immediate and efectual action.
Very respectfully, w. c. KERR