1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



607 



what singular., that this most interesting fact was 

 discovered in Europe, about the same time, that 

 it was announced here, by Mr. Edmund Ruffin, 

 as we find at the very moment we are writing 

 this, in his Farmer's Register for November. 



An obvious question here intrudes itself. Can 

 this be true? Has lime either caustic, or as a car- 

 bonate, the wonderful effect of destroying the ef- 

 fluvia of putrefying vegetable or animal matters, 

 which are considered as the greatest cause of bil- 

 ious diseases? We then ask emphatically: is it 

 true thatlime is used effectually, in preventing the 

 bad smells arising from offensive places, from the 

 receptacles of filth — has it not for centuries been 

 the practice ol throwing lime over the corpses that 

 were buried in churches to prevent infection? Can 

 we doubt the fact related by Mr. Ruffin, in his 

 "Essay on Calcareous Manures," of an experi- 

 ment which he has made, of covering the carcass 

 of a cow, which had died in hot weather, with cal- 

 careous earth or fossil shells, by which all offensive 

 smell was prevented, and all the gases produced 

 by the putrefaction of the carcass, were evidently 

 absorbed by the carbonate? Can we doubt the 

 experience of ages on a point connected with this 

 subject? If all this be true, it must necessarily 

 follow, that the same means used on an extended 

 scale must produce a commensurate effect. Now 

 that we have a clue to guide us in our reasoning, 

 may we not fairly attribute the well known heal- 

 thiness of the town of St. Augustine, to ihe same 

 cause. A considerable part of its vicinity is co- 

 vered with shells, its houses are formed of a stone 

 which is composed of small shells, and its streets 

 are paved with the same materials. 



Persons who have not extended their views on 

 this subject, far and near, can scarcely have an 

 idea of the vast and multifarious advantages, that 

 can be derived from a plentiful use of calcareous 

 matters in agriculture. It is well known that ma- 

 ny valuable plants grow thriftily, only on soils 

 either naturally calcareous or artificially made so. 

 Among them we shall only notice such plants as 

 bear papilionacious flowers. Of this class are lu- 

 cern, clover, &c. It is frequently asked why these 

 two most valuable plants will not thrive in this 

 Btate. The fault has been sometimes attributed to 

 the great heat of our summers, to the long 

 droughts which frequently occur here, when these 

 plants are parched and killed. It is most probable 

 that the true answer would be, that our soil is too 

 deficient in calcareous matter. The temperature 

 of the state of Virginia, at an equal distance from 

 the sea differs very little from that of our state; 

 and clover grows well there in suitable soils. It is, 

 moreover, most positively ascertained, that calca- 

 reous lands are much less affected by droughts, or 

 by too much rain than others. It seems, then, 

 most probable, that we have it in our power to culti- 

 vate here these two grasses, and have our clover 

 fields as well as our neighbors; from which they 

 derive almost incredible benefits. By means of 

 clover, they are most undoubtedly enabled to en- 

 rich their lands, to any extent they please, accord- 

 ing to their industry and intelligence. After clo- 

 ver, cotton, corn, or any other grain, prows admi- 

 rably well. These advantages are truly incalcula- 

 bly, and they are, at least, to a certain, if not, to 

 the fullest extent, most unquestionably within our 

 reach. We need but will it, and put our shoulder 

 to the wheel, and we are in the enjoyment of them. 



It is certainly with exceeding regret that we feel 

 ourselves compelled to exhibit the state of our ag- 

 riculture in such an unfavorable light; but the 

 truth must be told. We are most fortunately, at 

 present, in a state of peace; and there!ore, of pros- 

 perity; but wc act as if this state of things could 

 not possibly ever be changed. With an abun- 

 dance of fertile soil, we are dependent on others 

 for our bread and meat, as also for our riding and 

 carriage horses and working mules. If our ports 

 were now to be blockaded by an enemy, we should 

 be in a sad predicament, without either bread or 

 meat in the state sufficient for its own support. It 

 is true, that our neighbors would furnish us with 

 these articles of first necessity; but it could only 

 be at such prices as would make both the rich and 

 the poor suffer. This should not be. 

 Respectfully submitted by 



N. HERBEMOST, 



Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. 



ROCKBRIDGE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY — SILK 

 CULTURE — INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS OF 

 VIRGINIA. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Rockbridge Co. Dec. 28, 1835. 



***** Like every thing 

 of the kind in Virginia, our Aricultural Society 

 drags on a feeble existence. But under the aus- 

 pices of its present officers we hope to revive into 

 usefulness. Though the exhibition of stock at our 

 last meeting, was not very creditable, that of do- 

 mestic manufactures was highly so, particularly 

 the Venetian carpeting, counterpanes, and table 

 linen. A few dozen skeins of beautiful domestic 

 sewing silk, were also exhibited by Miss McCJure, 

 of this neighborhood, of various colors, and all of* 

 native origin. There cannot be a doubt that our 

 climate and soil are perfectly adapted to the growth 

 of the mulberry, and the rearing of the silk worm, 

 And if the delicate and feeble portion of our pop- 

 ulation could be induced to turn their attention to 

 the silk culture, and that of the grape vine, a new 

 source of wealth would soon be opened, and the 

 temptations to encounter the pestilence and the 

 privations attending a removal to the far west, 

 greatly diminished, if not entirely removed. This 

 is a result ardently to be desired by every friend to 

 the ancient dominion; and I doubt whether in ad- 

 dition to a more energetic system of internal im- 

 provement, it would not be good policy to extend 

 legislative aid to this new source of wealth in the 

 shape of premiums, or otherwise. By the by, 

 what has our Committee on Agriculture in the le- 

 gislature, been doing for the last few years, to ad- 

 vance the cause? Would it not be well to call their 

 attention to this subject? 



There seems to be a growing disposition in the 

 lower country to start a rival improvement (in a 

 rail road from Richmond to Lynchburg) to that of 

 the James River Canal. Can it be possible they 

 seriously contemplate doing the stockholders of 

 that company such injustice? But it would be im- 

 politic, as unjust, because, with the present re- 

 sources of the state both cannot be carried on with 

 zeal and energy, and it would probably be after 

 half our population had moved off in despair, 

 that either would be brought into a feeble exist- 



