FARMERS' REGISTER— MINERAL MANURES, &c. 



155 



been amply compensated. In making these remarks, 

 it is not so much our design to do honor to Ur. Morton, 

 however well it may he merited, as to call attention to 

 tlie value of results obtained by such feeble means for 

 investigation, compared to what' might be done, by a 

 proper geological survey of all the cliiferent i-egioas of 

 the state, such as Maiyland has already undertaken. 

 In the mean time, while our legislature slumbers over 

 the most urgent claims of agTiculture, or rejects them 

 with impatience or contempt, let individuals at least 

 do something to bring our mineral resources for im- 

 provement to light — and various examples to be found 

 in the Farmers' Register, prove that in this manner 

 much has been done, and may yet be done, by such 

 means alone. If the establishment of this journal had 

 done no other good than bringing out these discoveries, 

 its value to the community would have been at least 

 equal to the cost of its maintenance. 



Among the most valuable of these discoveries we 

 believe will be found that of the green sand, announced 

 in the communication of Professor Rogers in the first 

 part of this number. We rejoice that this and other 

 kindred subjects liave been undertaken by an investi- 

 gator having suitable scientific attainments, as well as 

 zeal for the pursuit. This discovery is as yet but 

 dawning, and the examinations of many persons guided 

 by the directions given in Mr. Rogers' communication, 

 may be usefully employed to aid him in the pursuit; 

 These aids we earnestly hope w411 be afibrded: and 

 those who may offer them, will no. doubt serve their 

 own private interests, as well as that of the public, by 

 such labors. We will take pleasuce in transmitting to 

 Mr. Rogers any specimens which it may be more con- 

 venient to send to Petersburg, or to Shellbanks, than 

 directly to him at William and Mary College. 



These latter remarks would have appeared better 

 placed immediately after the piece to which they refer. 

 But our silence then was caused by the expectation 

 (which unavoidable circumstances have compelled him 

 to disappoint) that the author would add the result of 

 an examination of the stratum of "gypseous earth," 

 which we have believed to be very similar to, if not 

 identical with the greeii sand or Jersey marl. Tliis ex- 

 amination will yet be made: and we feel confident that 

 there, and still nearer the falls of tlie rivers, willj be 

 found in the greatest quantities the earth described as 

 green sand. 



FERTILIZATION OF OLD LAVAS. 



Among the practical consequences that result 

 from the lacility with which Cacti strike from cut- 

 lings, there is one which deserves to be noticed, 

 on account of" its importance, viz: the manner in 

 wliich the Opaatla (European Indian Fig) is 

 employed to lertilize the old lavas at the foot ol' 

 Mount Etna. As soon as a fissure is perceived, 

 a brancli or joint of an opuntia is stuck in, and the 

 latter pushes out roots, which are nourished by the 

 rain that collects around them, or by whatever 

 dust or organic remains may have collected into a 

 little soil. These roots once developed, insinuate 

 themselves into tliemost minute crevices, expand, 

 and finally break up the lava into fragments.. 



Opuntiai? treated in thi.s manner produce a great 

 deal of fruit, which is sold as a refreshing food 

 throughout all the towns of Sicily. — De Candolle. 



AMilEUSr AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



For the Farmers' Register. 



At a meeting of a portion of the citizens of Am- 

 herst county, convened agreeably to public notice, 

 for the purpose of organizing an Agricultural So- 

 ciety. " 



Capt. Edmund Penn was called to the chair, and 

 Robert Tinsley appointed secretary. 



The society then proceeded to the election of of- 

 ficers for the ensuing year; whereupon, 



Dr. James Powell was duly elected president; 

 .John Jaquelin Ambler, vice president; Howel 

 L. Brown, treasurer; Arthur B. Davies, secreta- 

 ry. 



James Powell, John J. Ambler, John Thomp- 

 son, Arthur B. Davies, Howel L. Brown, Joseph 

 Pettyjohn and Robert Tinsley are appointed a 

 committee to report to the next meeting a constitu- 

 tion and a system of bye-laws for this society. 



Ordered, that Judge Lucas P. Thompson be re- 

 quested to deliver an address before this society, 

 on the 21st day of July next, at 10 o'clock, in fur- 

 therance of the objects of the society, and that the 

 secretary do furnish him with a copy of this order. 



The society is adjourned, till Monday, the 21st 

 of July next, 10 o'clock. ed, penNj Chair, 



Robert Tinsley, Sec'y. 



ON HILLING CORN. 



From tlie Con rant. 



Asthe season for hoeing Indian corn approaches, 

 the writer of this article takes the liberty of sug- 

 gesting to farmers in his vicinity, a few hints rela- 

 tive to earthing or hilling up at the second and 

 third hoeings, or as it is commonly called, half 

 hilling and hilling. 



The practice of most farmers within my acquaint- 

 ance is, at half hilling to accumulate the earth 

 from tw^o to four inches, and at hilling from three 

 to five inches more, making each hill a pyramid of 

 about seven inches elevation. The reason offered 

 in support of this practice is, that the corn will 

 stand firmer and more erect, and therefore be less 

 liable to be broken down by the wind and rain. 



More than fifty years' experience in this branch 

 of agriculture has taught me that this is erroneous 

 both in theory and practice. By accumulating 

 earth upon the roots of the corn they are deprived 

 of that influence of the air and sun which are ne- 

 cessaiy to a healthy and vigorous growth.* Every 

 one acquainted with the natural growth of this 

 plant, must have observed the peculiar formation 

 of the brace roots which sjirout upon the stalk in a 

 circidar form a very little below the surface of the 

 ground, radiating fi'om the stalk in every direction. 

 In Uke manner are the stalks of wheat, rj^e, barley, 

 oats, &c. furnished with their brace roots, and 



* It is well known where excavations are made in 

 constructing canals and rail roads, and the earth to any 

 considerable depth thrown upon the roots of large and 

 healthy trees, it causes their death within a j^ear or two, 

 by placing their roots below the influence of the air, 

 and warmth of the sun — ihe same effect is produced, 

 and from the same cause, where timber land is flooded 

 by water. 



