The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-29

understand what was required in order to at
tain success. The theoretical part of farming
has received hut little attention in this section,
but it is just as essential to a proper cultiya-
tior of the soil, as is the experience gained by
years of patient druggery with the plow and
reaper. The speaker then proceeded to de-
scribe the various ingredients Of the different
Soils and to explain the peculiar properties of
cach in relation to the plant food il supplies
He showed how each crop of grain takes from
the earth certain ingredients which have to
be restored before another growth could be
nourished Just what has been removed and
Just what had to be returned was knowledge
which every farmer should possess i'll order to
an intelligent understanding of the capacities
of his land. With this knowledge it could be
easily determined what crops were best suited
to certain soils under certain conditions, and
what stmulants should be used AS general
thing, the farmers of this section apply ferti-
lizers indiscriminatcly. To soils entirely
different, and requiring for their proper utili
cation different treatment, the same fertilizers
are bpDlltu. III llltliS CuSSS buCSC dililCtAtiOHS
are positively injurious, leaving the land in a
far worse condition than if no fertilizers at all
had been used. The science of chemistry has
determined just rs absolutely the needs of the
soil as the science of medicine has determined
the requirements of the human system, and
there is almost as much diversity in the one
as the other The skilful physician makes
thorough and searching examination of the
patient before he undertakes to prescribe, and
he is justly regarded as a charlatan who pro-
fesscs to have discovered universal cure-all
to he applied in every stage of every disease.
Just SO it is with the chemist. He analizes
the soil, discovers its deficiencies, and sets
about to restore its lost virtues by supplying
those elements of plant food which the crops
have drained or which nature has failed to
provide in servceable shape. Without o
knowledge of the ingredients of his soils, the
farmer undertakes to determine for himself
what is required to make them productive
He expends large sums each year in the pur-
chase of fertilizers. In many instances no
benefit is perceived, and he concludes that the
fertilizer is an inferior article, and is ready to
accuse his merchant OF an imposition. The
fault does not lie in the fertilizer. The failure
must be ascribed to the fact that it has been
iniudiciously applied. Because dose of qui-
nine would fail to restore a system wasted by
fever, is no reason why the drug has lost its
virtue Unless the farmer knows exactly what
his lands are in need of, it would be well for
him to abstain from attempting to improve
them by chemical applications. He is just
rs apt to injure rs improve.
In closing his lecture, Prot. de Comm said
that he would make analyses of any soils sent
him free of charge, and give directions as to
what fertilizers would be best adapted to them
Next year. when the farmers had ascertained
the value of such analyses and the amount
saved by them his charge would be $1,000
He wanted them to understand that they were
getting their moneys worth before they paid
any thing.
The lecture throughout was interesting and
contained much that it would do well for our
country friends to carefully consider.
AN AUGUSTA COUNTY INyENTIoN.-Ye ears
ago it may not be polite to use the word ma1y
of those who belonged to that now nearly ex
tinct class, the old field pedagogue, was one
Dudley; we regret we do not remember his
full name. He taught long time in the vi
cinity of Waynesboro, and Maj. Hanger and
his contemporaries were among his pupils. He
was of distinguished New England family
that in England and the United States traces
its gencalogy in distinct line oyer eight
hundred years. Of his several sons, Geo. w =,
OF Waynesboro, is the only one we know
aught of. He is an inventive genius. and be-
sides a saw-filing machine, an elastic buggy
wheel, and a rotary engine, we have seen with
in day or two patent issued on the 23d
ulto for new twisted reamer, the envelope
containing handsome black morocco case
with the impress of Mum & Co., and hearing
this direction on the envelope, "Col. J. Mar.
shall McCue Fishersville, Va" Alton. Nelson
county, being erased. His name was connect
ed with Mr.. Dudleys in these patents.
Practical mechanics who have examined it
think that it will be the most profitable, rs it
certainly will be the most generally used, OF
any of Mr.. D. inventions. 1t claims between
half dozen ard dozen points of superiority
oyer any in use, prominent among which are
these, that it makes a perfectly round hole, be-
cause it cuts at all points of the circumference
at the same time 1t will not choke, as it
drives the cuttings before it. 1t can't get
tight, as the twist is in the reverse direction.
1t can't jar, as it cuts against the pressure 1t
makes draw cut, and will thus cut faster and
keep sharper tllan any other shape. Having
fiat sides, it can be ground on an emory wheel ;
u futed one cannot. Being first forged square
the corners grooved, twisted and turned, it
| will be seen it can be as easily made as any
| flat reamer.
We incline to the belief That Mr.. Dudley has
been more lucky here than when he wandered
off into that department in the Patent Office
called the grave yard where there are nearly
two thousand monuments Of the departed
hopes of inventors.
I IN, Saf-