Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-25
HOME AND FARM.
Reflections ON the Beautiful Snow Rain
Water and its Value, etc,

Water and its Value, etc,
WHrG AND TXIBUNE:
We are now having the deepest snow |
since the 30th and 3lst days Of December, |
1867. Winters farewell-nature's warm
embrace-hides from view many Il desc
lation. We love the snow-the beautiful |
white snow-not alone for its beauty,
but it is so beneficial. We use the ex-
preston, ''as pure as snowflake" and
thus ignore the fact that snow is one
great source of fertility in the soil we
cultivate. The ancients believed that
rain and snow, or water alone, was the
vivifying power in their system of agri-
culture, while we moderns have, on the
other extreme, given too much credence
10 the theory that the insOluble sand, clay
and mould in which plants grow, is the
true source of nutriment. AS in many
other cases, there is a just mean between
these extremes. A plant placed in pure |
silicious sand and clay, and watered with |
river water, will grow longer and better |
than the same plant watered with rain |
water. The reason for the difference is |
plain: whatever the earth or atmosphere |
can supply of plant food, river water af-
fords. The agricultural salts are brought
out from the earth by the continued flow
of springs over the strata of ages; and
then the washings of forests, the decayed
vegetable matter and animal remains,
forming a vast amount of soluble matter,
both organic and inorganic, is borne
along the fiuvial current of our rivers
and, we may add, is lost, gone forever.
Except for this snow, we might see the
evidence of it in our washed fields and
bottoms. Egypt derived its proverbial
fertility from its river water. The insig-
nificant Forled Deer adds equal fertility
to not less than 10000 acres of land in
its course through this county, capable of
producing three million bushels of corn.
Our resources are undeveloped-ourg great
source of fertility lies dormant. If we
would talk less about manufactures-the
thing is impracticable-we may say i'm
possible, for the laws of nature forbid 1t.
We are simply an agricultural people;
as such we can succeed. Let us turn
our attention in that direction in earnest
and adopt some system We did love the
Union-now love Tennessee-above all,
would like to see Madison county emerge
from its vapid state and occupy high
vantage ground"
If we would but turn our attention to
our bottom lands, utilize our uplands by
growing grass and cereals, raising stock,
abandon cotton, then nothing but an in
cursion of Hoosiers and Gcthamites in
overwhelming numbers could ever effect
our equilibrium. We would be able to
stand the vampirism of the 'best Gov
ernment" To make Jackson the most
beautiful aud lovely inland city in all the
and, we viii, by small appropriation,
commence at the far end of Chester's
levee (nearly) and help the river to go on
rs she wants to, westerly direction into
the big slough, and thus throw the stream
over a mile from the town and give us
room on the south to build up real
Dutch town, flowing in milk and honey.
Wonder il Congress would not make an
appropriation to that effect. just as con-
stitutional and as expedient as the CEN
tennial appropriation.
did not begin this with the view of
having so much water in its composition.
Itoecurred TO us while melting some of
this SNOW, instead of its being so pure
and clear, that it had blacklist appear
ance. That we do not appreciate the i'm
portanee of the ealcerous element in wa
ter and the effect it has in nOurishing
plants. The question is simply this {:
How much of the erop-it may be of
wheat or of carn-is derived from the at
mofphere How much from the water
ascending and descending-thatt taken up
by the roots and that breathed in by the
leaves! And then, what part the soil
plays in this drama of vegetable produc-
ton. When these facts are ascertained
then we begin to accomplish something,
and agriculture becomes a science with a
basis as sure and certain as the laws OF
gravitation. We farmers need sense
need to put to better use the brains we
have. We would laugh at a man now
blowing with wooden mould-board, oil
with a wooden tooth harrow. We are
doing many things Just as foolish, we are
not taking into consideration the physica
condition of tIle soil we are cultivating
we do not seem to be aware of the fac
that soil may be rich and at the sam
time poor; or the reverse, that soil ma
be poor and at the same time compare
lively rich. One thing is certain we
not live up and act on the principle this
soil can be kept up to its original pro
ductiveness, we do not make a right Al
pIication of what we ought to know
Last year as stated by some agricultur;
journal man living near the coast
North Carolina heard that salt was
good manure, applied it-repOrted dan
age $4,000, no cents. Now it is know
that the winds take up much salt; o
more properly the atmosphere is more
less impregnated with salt, and thus Il
neighborhood is sailed, and to apply an
more is an injury. With MS SO far r
mote from salt water, moderately apple
it could not fail to act beneficiaIIy. an
especially would it be so on iimestor
soil. In this ease becoming decompose
the yield would &c carbonate of sod
Some agriceiturist not long since asserte
that the time would come when chemi.
try would enable one to put the manuI
in aconeenTated form, in ones pockt
sufficient to manure a forty acre field
but fear it viii not be during the life
time of "BIG IKE"
Tomato Culture.
At the February meeting of the Alto
Horticultural Society, the subject of K
matO culture was taken up and discussed
The secretary of the societp, Prof. o.
Barrier, stated that he had received an il
teresting communication from j. b. Ha
ney, an experienced gardner of Teri
Haute, Ind, ON the subject. The follow
ing are the statements of Mr.. Haney
and comments of the secretary:
l. Sow seed from the 10th TO the 10Th {