284 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



cwt. of pearl-ash ; but it was evidently inop- 

 erative on the crop. So much so that sep- 

 arate thrashing was deemed unnecessary. 



As far, then, as we can rely on this ex- 

 periment, carefully made with soil duly 

 prepared by previous exhaustion, it testi- 

 fies, as Mr. P. remarks, that the only ele- 

 ment of farm-yard manure required by wheat 

 is nitrogen, as contained either in nitric 

 acid or in ammonia. If this be true in an 

 exhausted soil, where the plant can only 

 find its other elements in the soil as it 

 gradually crumbles down, or in the atmos- 

 phere, it must be still more true in practi- 

 cal farming, where they will be supplied 

 ordinarily by manures applied to the other 

 crops of each course. 



As to one element of farm-yard manure — 

 the woody or carbonaceous matter — the 

 experiment is not conclusive, because, as 

 remarked by Mr. P., though carbon applied 

 as charcoal did not operate on wheat, the 

 woody or strawy carbonaceous matter con- 

 tained in ordinary manure, being more ea- 

 sily decomposed, might be operative. 



In this experiment the produce is very 

 low. This was owing to the gradual im- 

 poverishment of a naturally poor soil by a 

 succession of grain crops, aided by the 

 cutting winds of a harsh spring, which had 

 almost blown the plants out of the soil, 

 and rendered them almost invisible in May. 

 In a more sheltered part of the same field 

 the result was much better. 



The negative results of this experiment 

 go so far to prove the inefficiency of certain 

 chemical elements of manure on the growth 

 of the wheat-plant. Its positive result 

 goes to prove the benefit of nitrogenous 

 applications, and of top-dressing as one 

 mode of applying such substances. Top- 

 dressing is, probably, deserving of more 

 frequent trials in ordinary practice. — Coun- 

 fy Gentleman. 



THE PREMIUM LIST OF THE STATE AG- 

 RICULTURAL FAIR OF SOUTH CARO- 

 LINA. 



The State Fair, as will be seen by re- 

 peated notices published, will take place in 

 this city on the 11th day of Noveml)er, 

 and four days following. The Premium 

 List, which we publish in condensed type 

 in this nuinber, will be found as compre- 

 hensive as that of any other institution of 

 the kind in the Southern States. The Ex- 

 ecutive Committee had hoped that but ffew 

 objects of interest had been omitted in this 



list ; but they do not flatter themselves 

 that it is as complete and perfect in every 

 particular as it should be. In token of this 

 consideration, they beg all those who have 

 animals and articles, of superior value, to 

 present them at the Fair, and they may 

 come under the general head of meritori- 

 ous entries, entitled to special notice and 

 reward. If a liberal and generous spirit 

 of rivalry, is thus manifested, it will enable 

 the Committee the more readily to perceive 

 what they have omitted, and the experi- 

 ence which they will glean will be practi- 

 cally useful to them in the future. Our 

 friends who have articles not specially enu- 

 merated in the prize list, must reflect that 

 we are not all perfect, and that the Com- 

 mittee are novices in this matter, and only 

 hope to be thoroughly versed in their voca- 

 tion when there is nothing more that is 

 new to be offered in competition. Let any 

 one in South Carolina and the adjacent 

 States who has anything worth presenting 

 do so. State pride should induce our own 

 people to do so, and a laudable emulation 

 to excel should prompt our neighbors to 

 enter the field where the prizes are of no 

 contemptible order. Let the studs of the 

 South make our Fair Grounds a second 

 Olyinpia. Let lowing herds and bleating 

 flocks testify that our people have still 

 some pastoral tastes obtaining amongst 

 them. Let the golden harvests of our grain 

 fields and the fleecy staples of our com- 

 mercial vitality evidence that our agricul- 

 tural energy is effective and elevating in 

 its influence, and tending to a prosperity 

 in the future, which will scatter abundance 

 over the land. Let the handiwork of the 

 mechanic testify that labor and mind must 

 toil together. The manufactured products 

 of our busy spindles ; the ponderous cast- 

 ings of the sons of Tubal Cain ; the life- 

 throbbing engine, will all find room for a 

 fair comparison, test and trial. 



We look with much interest to the La- 

 dies of the State, and hope they will fill up 

 the extensive Hall and Galleries, which 

 will be ill readiness to receive the tasty 

 products of their skill and handiwork. Let 

 all enter the lists with the proper kind of 

 rivalry, and we will venture a prediction 

 that the first Fair of " The State Agricul- 

 tural Society ' will be a success, and the 

 precurser of many successively brilliant 

 and improving to all the interests of the 

 South. — Columbia, S. C, Agriculturist. 



