228 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



four millions of sheep, are kept in England, ad- 

 vantageously, on a territory but little larger than 

 the State of New York. This is not far from 

 twice the number of sheep now in the whole 

 United States. The English cultivators of the 

 soil, harvest, annually, according to Dr. Beek- 

 man, two hundred sixty-two millions bushels of 

 grain. 



From the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 WORN-OUT LANDS. 



In the American Farmer of December 27th, 

 appeared an extract from a communication by 

 John Jones, of Wheatland, to the Farmers' Ca- 

 binet, in which he makes allusion to the asto- 

 nishing effects brought about in the renovation 

 of worn-out lands in Delaware, by Dr. Noble, of 

 Philadelphia. On land which cost but fifteen 

 dollars per acre, and produced but five bushels 

 of wheat three years ago, by the application of 

 eight loads of manure, costing, freight included, 

 less than one dollar and fifty cents per load, the 

 Doctor has raised forty-seven bushels of wheat 

 from one acre, and from the remainder rather 

 less, the average being an enormous increase 

 over the produce of former years. The Editor 

 of the American Farmer expresses an " increase 

 desire" to learn the secret by which the Doctor 

 has been enabled, at the small expense of less 

 than twelve dollars per acre, to effect such as- 

 tonishing results. 



We would inform him there is no secret what- 

 ever in the method pursued, but such as any 

 farmer might discover for himself, if he would 

 but take the trouble to read some of the nume- 

 rous works upon the application of chemistry to 

 agriculture, lately published. Knowing by che- 

 mical analysis or examination, the composition 

 of the grain and straw of wheat, and that of 

 the soil, it was an easy matter to apply those 

 materials which were needed, in order to produce 

 a healthy and vigorous growth. He prescribed 

 for his wheat and soil as he would for a patient, 

 and with equal success; health and strength 

 have been restored to the suffering subject. 



Now, as to the sources of the manure which 

 he has made use of, we will say a word ; it is 

 in the power of every farmer, near large cities, 

 to procure the materials which are needed to 

 enrich the soil. 



The Doctor formed a compost obtained from 

 various sources, consisting of the refuse of tan- 

 ners, soap boiling establishments, &c; in short, 

 of such animal and vegetable substances as con- 

 tain soluble salts, or which can be ma.de subser- 

 vient to the growth of plants. In the selection 

 of these substances he was guided by their com- 

 position, as made known by chemical analysis. 

 "Give," says the rational agriculturist, "to one 

 plaint such substances as are necessary for its 

 development, but spare those which are not re- 



quisite, for the production of other plants which 

 require them." 



"An empirical," or quack system " of agri- 

 culture, has administered the same kind of ma- 

 nures to all plants, or where a selection has been 

 made, it has not been based upon a knowledge 

 of their peculiar composition." The phosphate 

 of soda or lime, the silicate of potash, and sul- 

 phate of ammonia, or other salts containing 

 these in other combinations, are necessary for 

 the production of wheat ; these have been sup- 

 plied by the Doctor, and why should we be as- 

 tonished at the results which have followed their 

 application ? He has adopted the scientific me- 

 thod of manuring, and if his knowledge of the 

 composition of the soil and wants of the crop 

 was exact, and his conclusions correctly drawn, 

 he could not err in the application of his ma- 

 nures. His is indeed a triumph of science over 

 the old fashioned, uncertain, and empirical mode 

 of farming ; here is an example worthy the at- 

 tention of every farmer, and especially should it 

 be considered by those whom prejudice has so 

 blinded that the}' cannot perceive the vast bene- 

 fits arising from the judicious application of 

 scientific knowledge to agriculture. It is indeed 

 " creditable to the Doctor as a scientific farmer 

 we hail him as a benefactor, and desire that he 

 ma} 7 persevere in that path of usefulness in 

 which he has found both pleasure and profit. 



J. S. L. 



Philadelphia, Second month 6th, 1844. 



For the Southern Planter. 



Wheatland, Mecklenburg, Aug. 13, 1844. 



Mr. Botts : 



Dear Sir, — The enclosed letter was written 

 by a negro man sold by a nephew of mine a 

 year or two ago to go Missouri with his wife, 

 and as I esteem it the most honest account of 

 matters in that country, 1 have thought proper 

 to enclose it to you for publication in the Planter. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



P. C. Venable. 



Upper Missouri, July 1, 1844. 



Dear Mother, — I am well and hearty ; my 

 wife is also enjoying good health at this time. 

 I have lost my two youngest children, Bob and 

 Harriet, since I have been out here. She has a 

 baby six weeks old, named Priscilla. I am 

 very desirous to see you and my relations ; wish 

 yon would write to me on the receipt of this, 

 and let me know how you are and who has 

 died since I left. 



This is a very fine fat country, though I can- 

 not like it ; it is too scarce of water and a great 

 deal more sickly than where I come from, though 

 I have not had much sickness myself, I would 

 advise none of my friends, black or white, never 



