THE SOUTHERN PLANTElt. 



77 



jurious to all vegetation, consequently cannot be 

 manure. When incorporated with earth, how- 

 ever, it does possess the power of fertilizing it." 

 Is not this a distinction without a difference." 

 Are not all manures recommended to be well 

 mixed with earth to give them full effect. May 

 not stable manure be so applied as to "be inju- 

 rious to vegetation." Guano, we know, may, 

 and are they to be considered not 10 be manures, 

 because of such improper effect. Is not this 

 darkening caused by words without know- 

 ledge? 



He goes on to explain the > ; mod»s operandi" 

 of the "putrefactive process." "Vegetable sub- 

 stances, when ploughed under, are favorably 

 located for putrefaction; that is, they are placed 

 in a close, cool, dark and damp location. There 

 is, however, one circumstance wanting which is 

 known to be indispensable to the generation of 

 the putrefactive process; that is a contact with 

 air." Will the Doctor attempt to make us believe 

 that when "vegetable substances are ploughed 

 under," all that is wanted is a contact with air? 

 Substances placed in such a situation cannot be 

 excluded from it. We who are "practical far- 

 mers," know very well that vegetable substances 

 so "ploughed under," always are converted into 

 manure, provided they can be kept sufficiently 

 wet; but if they cannot be so kept, no contact 

 with air will answer the purpose. The past 

 season gave ample testimony to this fact. AS! 

 that is wanted is sufficient moisture fo insure 

 "the putrefactive process" going on without any 

 necessity of alluding to the "oxides of calcium, 

 potassium, or sodium," as being capable bl 

 "completing the chain of circumstances." 



JNlow if Dr. Baldwin will come out and give 

 his" experience as a farmer, the quality of his 

 soil, the means he employed in his renovation, 

 in a plain way*, so that all may see how to follow 

 his practice, he will confer a favor on the agri- 

 culture of the country, far beyond what he can 

 ever hope to, by publishing such essays as the 

 one under review. 



Yardley Taylor. 



For the Southern Planter. 



ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 



Mr. Editor, — I observe a remark in the Jan- 

 uary number (which I have just received) to 

 which I will invite your attent on. Accompany- 

 ing an article from the Michigan Farmer, on 

 the "Analysis of Soils," you say "that stimu- 

 lants exhaust in proportion to their power of 

 producing an unnatural yield." I have noticed 

 very many similar expressions. Dr. Stuart, of 

 Baltimore, in an address before the Agricultural 

 Society of Maryland, October, 1853, speaking 

 of the effect* of guano, ?ayw, "And the effect of 

 this variety of manure is admitted by all good 

 authority to be merely to stimulate the plant to 

 extend its roots and gain nourishment from a 

 larger amount of soil." Mr. Edmund.*, in his 

 address before the first, meeting of the Virginia 

 Society, encourages c the young men of Virgi- 



nia who have to deal with soils exhausted by 

 scourging cultivation." He tells them "that the 

 foundation of improvement may be laid in the 

 use of guano and other special manures." But 

 I think he "chills the enthusiasm" he creates 

 when he tells them "that the effect of this class 

 of manures is, to cause a heavy production with- 

 out supplying all the ingredients which the crops 

 need, and unless ameliorating crops, occur veg- 

 etable litter be supplied, exhaustion of the land 

 will follow their continued use," I have' heard 

 others say that the effects of guano on the soil 

 were similar to those produced on the stomach 

 of a dyspeptic by a glass of brandy and water, 

 leaving the organ in a more enfeebled condition. 

 There seems to be a remarkable confusion of 

 ideas on this subject; some say the plant is un- 

 naturally stimulated— others, the soil. 



Now, what do Dr. Stuart and his authorities 

 mean? 'Stimulate a plant to gain nourishment 

 Are not ail stimulants nourishment to plants? 

 and is there any other mode of stimulating a 

 plant than by nourishment? If two hundred 

 pounds of guano wiSF stimulate or nourish one 

 acre of corn, imparting such vigor and strength 

 as to enable the plant to send its roots all over 

 the neighborhood in pursuit of food, will not 200 

 lbs. more supply all its wants, supersede the ne- 

 cessity of this fruitless chase, (for the Doctor is 

 speaking of a poor, barren soil,) and produce a 

 full crop. What does Mr. Edmunds mean? If 

 the land is already exhausted by "scourging 

 cultivation" how can it be exhausted by guaho? 

 and how can a heavy production be made on 

 exhausted land, unless all the necessary id gra- 

 dients be supplied? And what, Mr. Editor, may 

 ! ask, do you mean, when you say, "that stimu- 

 lants exhaust in proportion to their power of 

 forcing an unnatural yield?" Is there not false 

 analogy in all this? Do not such terms and 

 such effects of stimulus presuppose organic, ner- 

 vous structure? 



On the question, whether science is doing any 

 thing for agriculture is rather, whether chemis- 

 try is rendering any practical benefit, 1 may 

 again invite your attention to Dr. Stuart's ad- 

 dress, in answer. I will here make one or two 

 suggestions on the subject of guano. It is com- 

 plained that this manure is not a permanent im- 

 prover. * 



Query I. In the/ use of all expensive, or 

 "bought" manures, does not true economy re- 

 commend that just the amount necessary for the 

 current crop should be used and no mare? 



Query 2. If 200 lbs. guano will produce 20 or 

 25 bushels of wheal on land thai would not pro- 

 duce 5 bushels without, (see Mr. Newtoms state- 

 ment,) is it not ungrateful and unreasonable to 

 talk about residuum for permanent improve- 

 ment? and is it not unjust not to give credit for 

 the straw as a means of improvement? 



Our wheat crops are looking backward and 

 badly. 



Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant* 



P i a n k k Tank,. 



'Gloucester. Jan. 20, 1855. 



