THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



100 



the projections in the end of one just fitting the 

 indentations in the end of the next. 



Many suppose that by placing the ends of the 

 tiles together, the openings left will not be suffi- 

 cient to discharge all the water, or rather allow it 

 all to enter the pipes; experience proves, however, 

 that provided the pipes are large enough to dis- 

 charge all the water, it will all find its way into 

 them. It is found that for all the smaller drains, 

 except when a marsh or something of the sort is 

 to be drained, tiles of from one inch to an inch and 

 a half bore are sufficiently large to insure perfect 

 drainage. The main drains should, of course, be 

 laid with large tiles, the size being determined by 

 the number of small drains which empty into the 

 mains. Sometimes main drains are made by placing 

 two rows of cylindrical or horse shoe tiles side by 

 side. When large bodies of water are discharged 

 by the main drains regular conduits of stone should 

 be made. 



Before filling up the drains it is well to inspect 

 them all to see that none of the tiles have become 

 displaced. In filling them some use a layer of 

 broken stone before putting on any earth, a prac- 

 tice which very greatly increases the expense; 

 while others simply ram a layer of moist earth 

 around and above the pipes, and afterwards fill up 

 with loose earth. The last method is found to be 

 quite as effective in securing good drainage as the 

 other. Bits of sod are sometimes used with the 

 grass side down, to place over and protect the joints 

 from getting choked with earth, but this is an un- 

 necessary precaution, except when the earth is very 

 dry. 



As the subject of thorough draining has only re- 

 cently begun to attract the attention of agricul- 

 turists, it is not to be presumed that all of its prin- 

 ciples are unalterably fixed, or that the most per- 

 fect practice has been attained. In what we have 

 said upon the subject we have endeavored to give 

 what are now regarded as the true principles of 

 draining and to recommend such practices, and 

 only such, as have been proved to be effective in 

 securing good drainage. 



For the Southern Planter. 



FACTS AND TESTIMONY OF GREATLY IN- 

 CREASED PRODUCTION FROM THE USE 

 OF MIOCENE MARL ON LANDS NATURAL- 

 LY POOR. 



BY EDMUND RUFFIN. 



In the "Southern Planter" for May, 1853, was 

 published, as a communication to the State Agri- 

 cultural Society, a review of the 5th edition of the 

 "Essay on Calcareous Manures," from the pen of 

 the Hon. Willoughby Newton. Such high com- 

 mendation was therein bestowed on the work re- 

 viewed, and on its author, in respect to the more 

 important subjects of discussion, that I have fe]t 

 very reluctant to object to any of the less favor- 

 able opinions. My uttering any such objections 

 may appear to the public as indicating a morbid 

 sensitiveness to censure, and impatience of all op- 

 position and just reproof. This charge will not be 

 entertained by my reviewer, or by any one who 

 knows our private relations of mutual regard and 

 esteem. His expressions of dissent and reprehen- 



sion have been received by me as among his high- 

 est compliments — as their utterance indicated his 

 confidence in my being able to bear (what he 

 deemed) unpalatable truths without taking offence. 

 It is not my purpose to reply to any of these ex- 

 pressions of disapproval or denial of some parts of 

 my reasoning, or theoretical or speculative views. 

 Without yielding them in the least, I leave their 

 value to be decided upon by our readers. It is for 

 another purpose, much more important to public 

 interests and agricultural improvement, that I now , 

 write. 



No one appreciates more highly than Mr. New- 

 ton the profits of calxing, or is more convinced of 

 the indispensable necessity for that mode of im- 

 provement for nearly all the lands of lower Virgi- 

 nia. But his own very successful and profitable 

 improvements have been produced by (or based 

 upon) the use of lime instead of marl; and the appli- 

 cations of the latter manure, within the sphere of 

 his personal observation, would seem to have been 

 less judicious and profitable than elsewhere, and 

 much less effective than all proper applications 

 will be found. Under impressions thus received, 

 he has greatly, though certainly unintentionally, 

 underrated the actual and ordinary benefits and 

 profits of marling, and still more what ought to be 

 the much greater and certain benefits of all judi- 

 cious applications, made under circumstances not 

 unfavorable to the operation. The high and well 

 deserved reputation which Mr. Newton has at- 

 tained as one of the best informed agriculturists 

 and most successful improving farmers of Virginia, 

 will give currency and authority to all his delibe- 

 rately expressed opinions, even in the few cases of 

 their being founded on mistake and error. It is to 

 guard against the latter and unusual tendency of 

 his teaching, (in a minor but important portion of 

 a great general subject,) that I am now induced to 

 appear in defence of some of my former positions, 

 in regard to matters of fact and practice. 



The proposition which will be here opposed is 

 presented in the following passage of the review : 

 11 The power of calxing has prescribed limits, be- 

 yond which it cannot go. We believe there has 

 been no instance in Virginia, or elsewhere, nor do 

 we think it possible there can ever be one, of the 

 product of any naturally poor farm being brought 

 up to an average, on entire fields, from year to 

 year, of more than ten bushels of wheat, or twenty 

 bushels of merchantable corn, to the acre, by calx- 

 ing alone, however long continued, though the ope- 

 ration be aided by the use of all the putrescent 

 manures that could be produced on the farm, and 

 by plaster, clover and peas, and the best possible 

 rotation."— (Southern Planter, p. 133, Vol. XIII.) 



The reviewer applies this general proposition to 

 miocene marl, (which contains no notable fertilizing 

 principle other than carbonate of lime,) and on land 

 naturally poor, or not of good soil. He specially 

 and properly excepts the operation of eocene marl, 

 containing " green sand," and important manuring 

 ingredients in gypsum, potash, and perhaps other ac- 

 cessories to the main ingredient, carbonate, of lime. 

 Admitting all such cases of exception claimed, I 

 still maintain that there can be adduced numerous 

 and well authenticated facts of the above proposi- 

 tion being erroneous. There is no need to seek 

 abroad for such evidence. I will confine myself to 

 adducing facts and testimony that were before in 

 my possession, and obtained for a different purpose. 



In 1840, for the purpose of presenting the fullest 

 proof of the manner of action and the beneficial 



