, 1872-04-03

t4C ElOuAAOf ia IhS W.
them enclosing square piece ofIand, proportion
atelv to the number of cattle to be turned into it
at the end of a couple Of weeks, q part OF the posts
and ratings could be shifted, by leaving one side
standing and moving the other three sides on the
opposite face of the remaining side, thus inclosing
q second piece and so continue shifting them un-
til the whole field had received the dung and
urine of the inclosed cattle, which otherwise, un'
der the present system, would 60 10 vast III the
road, ~yard-pens and pastures. This is considered
a very advantageous practice IN other colonies
many planters entirely trust TO It's good results
and have always on hand at least three or four
such movable pens. The manure made IN the
yard-pans is also of an inferior quality to that
made on the spot where it IS required, on account
of the great deal of loss sustained by the urine
soaking down into tho flooring of the pen.
In applying manure, wo must endeayour to
procure for the canes, not the greatest possible,
but the most profitable vegetation, for a too lUXa-
RANT growth is preiudiciat to the elaboration OF the
saccharine Juice. If TOO litrIe be used it is una
vailin~ and lost. The canes are then soon scorch-
cd up the sun causing the rapid e~xaaIatiou Of tlose
few Wlttry parts, which q too weak vegetation
has only had the power o. forming, and the sac
charjne juice becomes closely united to an emPy-
roumatic Oil, which yitiatos it. 1t is also very
requisite to allow the land to lie follow; this is
found from experience, 10 restore them nearly as
much as the usual Qlaatitv of manure; bat the
weeds musJ by no means be suffered to gain do
mjnion over them while in this state, as these eX-
haUst the land as much, and even more than the
cane. Much difference Of opinion prevails as to
the proper state in which manure ought to be ap-
piled or pIouged into the ground, whether recent,
or whom it has gone through the process of fer
mcntati0n. Those who have considered and IN
dcrstand the subject chemically, entertain no
doubt, and the great authority Of Sir Humphrey
Dayy seems t. be conclusive. that recent manure
is most valuable.
As soon as dang begins to decomposo it throws
off its volatile parts, which are the most valuable
and efficient; dung which has fermcnted to a more
soft cohesive mass, has generally lost from ] TOD
OF is most useful constituent clements, therefore
to prevent manaros from ~decomposing too rapidly
they should be preserved dry, defended from the
contact Of the ar, aud kept as cool as possible if
dung cannot be Immediately applied, the destruc-
tive fermentation of ii should be prevented very
carefully the surface should be defended as much
as possible from the oxygen of the atmosphere q
compact mari or q tenacious clay is the best protec-
ton, and before it is covered up, or as it were,
sealed over it should be dried as much as posi-
Bile; it would however be advisable to allow a
slight degree of fermentation to take place before
it is exposed in divided quantities to tho scorching
heat Of our tropical sun. In Barbados and other
places manure is always permitted to reach a
certain degree Of fermentation, previous to its APP
plication to the soil.
Having now exhausted the subject of my com
munication | venture to hope that the views |
have brought forward through your medium, the
press, may contribute to the improvement OF our
planters and cause them to look into the NEST i'm
portant and useful of the arts, namely the con.
nection of chemistry with our agriculture. trust
that the inquiry will be pursued by all interested,
and That in proportion as agricultural chemistry ad-
vances towards perfection, so may our little Island
also advance in its productions, as the soil offers in
exhaustable resources, which, when properly appre-
ciated and employed, must increase our wealth, pop
ulation, physical strength, and consequently our
Institutions.
Nothing is Improbable to Iabour aided by inge-
nuity, the true objects of the Agriculurist are
likewise those of the patriot man in general value
most what they have gained with great effort, they
will learn to love their adopted country better, be-
cause they will see its improvements progressing
through their own talents and industry. Allow
me in conclusion, to thank you for the occasional
space l have occupied in your columns, hoping
soon to see your promised "Feuilleton'', as l am
sure our planting community will feel happy to
hear something more sf agriculture. [ sincerely
trusts it will be the means of increasing the circu-
lation of the avis" at least in this Island, ut the
same time securing you a greater number of sub
soribers and thereby doing away with that detrst-
able system of borrowing and lending out the said
paper, a practice SO very prevalent among a partOf
our community that can really well afford to sub
scribe to it. / think our motto should be to do
unto others as we would wish to be done by; there
fore live and let live.
am, dear Sir, a lover and friend