190 NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



insure success, let the seed be sown thickly, not sparingly, for 

 the writer believes that in the climate of North-Carolina more 

 seed is required than where the climate is cooler. Besides, 

 there is no more effectual means to guard against drouth, and 

 a hot sun, than to cover the whole surface with vegetation, 

 and the supplying this vegetation with abundant nutriment. 

 In support of this view, let a field of Indian corn be ex 

 amined, a part of which has grown sufficiently to shade the 

 soil, and part is backward from any cause, and does not shade 

 it. The first will sustain a drought without material injury, 

 while the other will be destroyed. So also, where clover has 

 taken a strong and vigorous hold and covers the ground, it 

 stands a severe drouth, while that portion of the field which 

 is thinly planted, dries ; the soil becomes hard and cracks, 

 and the plants perish. We may, therefore, be guided to suc 

 cessful results by observation. What frequently takes place 

 naturally, or accidentally, in consequence of a failure in our 

 own experiments, will furnish safe ground to go upon. We 

 cannot insist too strongly in this climate upon the use of much 

 seed, that the soil may be covered with vegetation ; and 

 hence, protect it by preserving the surface in a cool con 

 dition. Moisture is always condensed from the atmosphere 

 upon such a surface during the night, and evaporation is in a 

 great measure prevented by day, if a thick coating of veg 

 etation has grown upon it. We should not forget in this con 

 nexion that early planting is one of the means by which we 

 may secure a crop from the effects of a drouth. 



One of the best materials for grass lands is ashes, either 

 leached or unleached. The latter will, of course, contain less 

 potash, but even then, they are highly valuable. In the ab 

 sence of ashes, fine marl sown broadcast, or if accessible, 

 strewed freely upon the surface, will effect important results, 

 either ash or marl bring in clover, without sowing seed. 

 Plaster produces the same effects. Where a system of hus 

 bandry is pursued which furnishes barn-yard manure, it sup 

 plies an admirable basis for composting. Yery few planta 

 tions in the eastern section of the State, which do not furnish 

 muck or peat. With one load of barn-yard manure and two 



