354 



THE SOUTHE 



RN PLANTER. 



determine their character. — [Norton's Ele- 

 ments, 206.] 



It is the province of geology to explore the 

 structure of the earth's surface, and to map 

 the various strata and leading features — mark- 

 ing and describing the location and boundaries 

 of the different strata— clearly delineating their 

 extent and position, and showing the extent 

 and location of the drift formation — giving to 

 the farmer a general knowledge of the origin 

 and composition of his soil. To this extent 

 Prof. Norton says geology may instruct: If a 

 farmer "wishes to buy land in a distant re- 

 gion, and has no definite knowledge as to its 

 character, he may determine its probable qua- 

 lily at once from a good geological map. If 

 he has cultivated the soil of some particular 

 formation, till he has come to like it, and to 

 know better how to cultivate it than any other, 

 he may, in the same manner, learn where to 

 find for himself or for his children, the same 

 kind of land, in some other district." [Norton's 

 Elements, p. 206.] It furnishes to the farmer 

 the chart by which he is to be guided in pro- 

 curing analyses of his soils. If he desires 

 positive information, when the geological map 

 points out the general origin and composition 

 of his soil, the chemist by definitive analysis 

 supplies this demand. 



The practical value of this information may 

 be easily explained. All plants consist of or- 

 ganic and inorganic substances— the latter of 

 which constitute their ashes; and are derived 

 solely from the soil. The soil must contain 

 these substances or the plant cannot grow. A 

 very fertile soil contains all of them in consi- 

 derable quantity. Many soils contain some 

 of them in large quantities, and are deficient, 

 sometimes destitute of others. Thus soils 

 formed from granite may be deficient in lime 

 and the phosphates, whilst those formed from 

 decayed trap may contain lime abundantly. 

 In ignorance of its composition, the farmer 

 may apply the very ingredient that abounds 

 in his soil — the application may be wasted, 

 indeed, it may be injurious, as frequently oc- 

 curs, where magnesian limestone is applied 

 to lands abounding in magnesia. In closing 

 a very valuable paper on the subject, Professor 

 Johnston remarks: "The consideration of all 

 these facts show how important, in reference 

 even to practical purposes, a knowledge of the 

 geological structure of a country is, how ne- 

 cessary that the general origin and composi- 

 tion of the soil should be ascertained, and that 

 neither lime nor any other substance should be ap- 

 plied to it, of Vjhich the chemical composition is not 

 exactly known— [Ed. Jour. Ag\, 1849, p. 430.] 



Whilst all of the inorganic substances of 

 plants are important to their growth, lime in 

 its various combinations is by far the most 

 useful and most extensively applied. One of 

 the distinctive features in the soils of this 

 State is absence of carbonate of lime in nearly 

 all * Throughout the tide water region, as a 



* Ruffin on Calcareous Manures. 



general fact, there is a deficiency of lime in 

 any of its combinations. Wherever this defi- 

 ciency occurs it is abundant cause for steri- 

 lity. The former President of this Society has 

 pointed out this deficiency of lime, and has 

 also discovered, that the naturally poor soils 

 of that section contain an acid injurious to 

 the growth of cultivated crops. The applica- 

 tion of marl or lime corrects this acidity and 

 supplies the wants of the soil. Before this 

 discovery successive generations had toiled 

 with enduring perseverance, but unrewarded 

 industry. No amount of industry, no display 

 of skill could supply the want of that know- 

 ledge. The soils could neither be durably nor 

 profitably improved by putrescent manures. 

 But the application of calcareous manures 

 will give to their worst soils a power of re- 

 taining putrescent manures, equal to that of 

 the best, and will cause more productiveness 

 and yield more profit than any other improve- 

 ment practicable in lower Virginia.— [Ruffin 

 on Cal. Manures, 63, 65.] The wants of the 

 soil are pointed out — the remedy is applied — 

 permanent and profitable improvement fol- 

 lows — the resources of the - State are deve- 

 loped — the wealth of the citizen increased — 

 private interests and public motives concur to 

 stimulate the energies of her farmers. These 

 vast benefits flow from the announcement of 

 a single scientific truth, and the extent of its 

 value will scarcely be appreciated by the ex- 

 isting generation. 



It is greatly to be regretted, that our infor- 

 mation in regatd to the district above tide wa- 

 ter is so limited and uncertain. There is no 

 geological map to guide our course. Over the 

 different parts of this widely extended area 

 we have every variety of primary stratified 

 rocks, producing soils of every degree of fer- 

 tility. Many counties are covered by gneiss, 

 and the soils produced from them are light 

 colored, deficient in lime, magnesia, &c. In 

 many others, sandstones are the leading for- 

 mations, and the soils formed from them are 

 the most sterile perhaps to be found in the 

 State. 



After crossing the Blue Ridge, we reach the 

 limestone formation, which occupies the entire 

 length and most of the breadth of the Valley — 

 producing soils generally fertile, some of them 

 eminently so. Successive strata of sandstone, 

 limestone and slate are found in proceeding 

 westward from the Valley, terminating in the 

 great coal formation of the West. By far the 

 greater part of these rich limestone soils are 

 destitute of the carbonate of lime, but are sup- 

 plied with lime in the form of silicate of 

 lime. — [Professor Gilham.] 



There is strong reason for believing' that a 

 deficiency of lime in any of its combinations 

 is the chief cause of sterility in the naturally 

 poor soils of all those districts, and that an 

 increased supply is needed in the more fertile 

 soils. For the primary rocks in which quartz, 

 mica and felspar predominate, the sandstones, 

 mica slates, and clay slates, are generally poor 



