FARMERS' REGISTER— AC RICUJ.TURE, VEGETATION, &c. 



529 



on this subject, some farther observations will be 

 iiiutlc, tbiiiuled on inlc)rniiition derived tt-cmi mj^ 

 own experience, the best autJiors, and tlie most in- 

 lellijjent agriculturists. 



Siable dung or animal manure ought to be 

 spread on tillage land designed lor corn or potatoes 

 the spring aller it is made, and well mixed wiih 

 the soil, by the harrow first and then tlie jilough. 

 This mixing of the dung and soil sliould be per- 

 H)rmod immediately alter the manure is carried 

 Irom the heap to the field. It the small heaps are 

 sufliered to remain in the field during a fermenta- 

 tion, there is great loss of heat, of volatile fluid, 

 oily, and gaseous matter, by their dissipation in 

 the atmosphere, which would, if the dung be 

 speedily and properly buried in the ground, be 

 communicated to the soil, thus securuig to the 

 ])lants the most nourishing properties, and the 

 whole strength of the manure. 



As it respects their speedy application, the same 

 remarks ajiply to all kinds of manure, as well as 

 to that of stable dung. 



Some are of the opinion that stable and farm 

 yard manure ought always to be applied in a re- 

 cent stale, that is, [)revious to their rotting or de- 

 composiiion. In this case the manure must be 

 spread on the land as ahove directed, as new dung 

 will not answer a good purpose to place in the hill 

 lor Indian corn ; and it is not so good on most soils 

 for potato hills, as that which is somewhat de- 

 composed and rotten. Barn yard dung may pro- 

 fitably be applied, as before observed, in the hill of 

 corn and potatoes ; and it" so applied it should not 

 be applied in a recent state. 



With regard to the quantity of manure to be 

 applied to an acre of tillage, many circumstances 

 must be taken into consideration, such as the 

 strength of the soil, the kirjd of grain or produce 

 to be raised, (Indian corn reqiuring the largest 

 quantity) and the kind or quality of the manure to 

 be applied. The farmer, in making his calcula- 

 tions on this point, should not apportion his ma- 

 nure to the quantity of ground he may wish to 

 place under tillage; but should apportion his 

 ground to the quantity of manure he can com- 

 mand. "Scanty dressings," as the term is, should 

 ever be rejectee!. " We till too much land," is an 

 expression in very common use; but instead of 

 being a vague speculation of the brain, it should 

 be reduced to the actual practice of the hand. 



In the speculation of manure, the quality of the 

 soil and of the manure should be considered. A 

 cold, stilf, clayey, or wet soil requires a hot fer- 

 menting manure, and one not much decomposed, 

 and that too in considerable quantity, that the 

 cold nature of the soil may be corrected by the 

 warmth of the dung ; on the contrarv, a dry, warm, 

 sandy soil requires dung more decomposed and 

 putrified, and a less quantity answers a good pur- 

 pose. On such soils a comjiost of dung and peat 

 moss, as before described, is a very suitable ma- 

 nure. 



RKMAUivS OiV AGnif'UI^TrUE, V ECiETATIOX, 



&c. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Nothing is of more importance than the cul- 

 tivation of the soil, and improvement of agricul- 

 ture. I have read with pleasure and salisfactioii 

 many communications on this subject, in your 



i^seful paper. It is indeed pleasing to see gen- 

 tlemen of the first standing in society, come for- 

 ward and give information upon this all important 

 subject. I hope they will go on and use every 

 exertion to promote the welfare and happiness of 

 the Old ]>ominion. We have paid but little at- 

 tention to agriculture: indexed it has been most 

 shamefully neglected. The reason appears obvious: 

 we have more land than we can cultivate, and 

 there will be a. waste until necessity compels us to 

 improve. What, I might ask, has been the mode 

 of cuhivation for a century past? It has been, to 

 get as much land cleared as possible, make a iew 

 indifferent cro];s, and pay little or no attention to 

 it afterwards. In a tew years the soil is carried, 

 by frequent washings, down hills, branches, creeks 

 and rivers, until it reaches the Atlantic; the steril 

 earth and gullied fields put up pine, and ultimately 

 the inhabitants are driven from neccs.sity beyond 

 the mountains. This Virginia can witness; and I 

 am sorry to say, many of ns are going on in the 

 old way, without any ambilion to excel our pre- 

 decessors. It is true, we have some industrious 

 characters, who are disposed to benefit society 

 fi-ee from self interest, and it is much to be re- 

 gretted, tliat this laudable spirit is not more ge- 

 neral^ 



Nothing is wanting but a correct system of 

 agriculture, to make us the most independent 

 people upon earth — we should therelbre endeavor 

 to improve this great science, and supply, if pos- 

 sible, the general and lamented defect. I feel 

 disposed to call upon the enlightened part of the 

 community, to use their influence in producing a 

 change; they alone have it in tlioir power, and if 

 they will use exertion, they can effect a revolution 

 in a short time. Let us then take in consideration 

 all that relates to the cultivation of the soil, al- 

 though it may require years to perfect the great 

 object. 



The earth is a mean by which plants are sup- 

 ported and nourished. There are five primitive 

 earths which are generally foimd in most countries, 

 viz. silex, lime, magnesia, alumine and barytes; by 

 a particular union of these earths, are formed the 

 great variety of stones observable on the surface 

 of our irlobe; in many instances, they are united 

 with various acids, forming salts. The gypsum, 

 for instance, is a salt composed of the sulphuric 

 acid and lime; all the rock, lime, shells, and va- 

 rious marbles, are salts composed of the carbonic 

 acid and lime. These earths taken separately, 

 are unfit lor vegetation. Sdex retains heat and is 

 destitute of moisture; argillacious earth, cold and 

 humid; calcareous earth caustic, and gives out 

 water ton freely; magnesian earth, steril and des- 

 titute of any active properties. They are, how- 

 ever, so opposed, that they correct each other 

 when united. Farms abounding with argilla- 

 cious earth, may become ))roductive by the addi- 

 tion of lime and plaster: by this union, the lime is 

 robbed of its humidity ami the adhesive quality of 

 the clay destroyed. The earths taken separately, 

 will not constitute muniur, and we have to study 

 the soil befcre we atiemjtt the improvement. The 

 great secret in agr'icnlturc, is a proper union of 

 earths, together with various agents to be named 

 hereatler. The good effects to be derived from 

 the primitive earths, must be owing to the affinity 

 which they have fijr each other; atmospheric air, 

 water, vegetable and animal productions, hasten- 



