THE SOUTHE 



will enable ns to attain both results. The so- 

 luble matter obtained by slight fermentation will 

 give it a good start, and the undecomposed ve- 

 getable matter by gradually becoming soluble 

 under the earth, will nourish it until it attains 

 its full growth. The plan here recommended, 

 with this alteration, to scatter the manure from 

 my stable over the litter in the farm-yard, I shall 

 commence in April, usin^j the lime and saw- 

 dust as above hinted at. 



I have thus, I must confess, very unsystema- 

 ticallj r given my humble opinion with respect to 

 making and using manure on tobacco, and shall 

 be pleased to receive any modification or addi- 

 tion to this which you may see fit to advance. 

 Very respectfully yours, &c. 



Wm. H. Jones. 



Mecklenburg Co., Va., March 19, 1843. 



That a certain degree of decomposition is ne- 

 cessary to the action of vegetable manures, and 

 that too great a degree is hurtful to their ferti- 

 lizing properties, we conceive, with Mr. Jones, 

 to be a settled point. That stall manure thrown 

 into piles for too great a length of time, becomes 

 too much decomposed, and that the vegetable 

 matter of the farm-pen is not sufficiently so, we 

 know to be frequently the case. Therefore, we 

 think Mr. Jones is very right in throwing his 

 farm-pen manure into heaps, whereby heat and 

 decomposition will be produced, before carrying 

 it out. To prevent excessive decomposition, 

 and to retain the precious gases set loose in the 

 operation, we know nothing better than the in- 

 terposition of layers of earth between layers of 

 the manure. 



As to the lime it is both a septic, and an anti- 

 septic ; that is to say, in small quantities, it pro- 

 motes decay, and in larger ones, it prevents it. 

 With respect to its chemical action, that of 

 course depends upon the gases and acids with 

 which it is brought into collision. These may 

 vary extremely in different heaps. It is per- 

 fectly idle to talk about chemical action, until 

 we settle the presence of all the chemical agents. 

 As regards the carbonate of ammonia, now con- 

 sidered the most valuable product of the decom- 

 position of vegetable matter, the lime would, we 

 should fear, especially if by the heat rendered 

 caustic, have such an affinity for the carbonic 

 acid of the ammonia as to resolve it into its 

 gaseous and irretainable form. Yet we know 

 many experienced farmers, who think that the 

 best mode of using lime, is to mix it in with 

 their compost heaps. 



RN PLANTER. 107 



To the Editors of the Southern Planter: 



Gentlemen, — It has been remarked by one of 

 the most observant planters in this section of 

 country, that " clover without the assistance of 

 plaster, so far from being an improver, is an ex- 

 hauster of the soil." If this idea is correct, — of 

 which I have no doubt, — would not our sandy 

 ridge lands be more benefitted by turning under 

 a thick coat of weeds while in the flowering 

 state and well powdered with charcoal, than by 

 the heaviest covering of clover which they would 

 produce by the application of plaster? We 

 have an inexhaustible resource in our piney old 

 fields for the best kind of charcoal, the advan- 

 tage of which, on our farm-pens and stable-floors 

 has been fully and satisfactorily tested, not only 

 by solidifying the ammonia, and thereby en- 

 hancing the value of the manure, but in the 

 improvement of the comfort and health of the 

 stock in consequence of its correcting all disa- 

 greeable effluvia. But I have not heard of its 

 being applied broadcast on the growing crop of 

 clover or weeds, as a substitute for plaster. Our 

 distance from market and the great weight of 

 the article, render the general use of plaster too 

 expensive for our small farmers. Will Mr. Za. 

 Drummond give us another one of his excellent 

 communications on the subject, or any other 

 connected with it ? 



In confirmation of the idea suggested by Mr. 

 Venable in his last remarks on the culture of 

 tobacco, that the crop was injured by plough- 

 ing, after the plants were large enough to take 

 the rot, I would state, that my crop last year suf- 

 fered less from the rot or spot, than that of any of 

 my neighbors, (although raised on light sandy 

 land,) which is solely attributable to its not hav- 

 ing been ploughed after the commencement of 

 the wet weather. 



A Young Planter. 

 Pittsylvania, April 4, 1843. 



THE GRASSES. 

 We lately heard a gentleman, upon whose 

 extensive experience we would rely with more 

 confidence than upon the analysis of some che- 

 mists, state that cattle preferred and fattened on 

 first timothy and herdsgrass, then orchard grass, 

 and then clover which is probably the least pro- 

 ductive of solid fat of any of the cultivated 

 grasses. He moreover declared that instead of 

 laying off pasturage grounds into separate lots, 

 and shifting the cattle from one to the other, 

 the whole should be thrown into one field, in 

 which the stock should be allowed to range at 

 pleasure. By this latter arrangement the cattle 

 obtain free access to the grass in any particu- 

 lar stage of its growth that it may be preferred, 



