28 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
vinces of the empire. Perhaps the practice was not un- 
known to the ancient Britains, for Pliny suggests as 
much when he says : “There is a way of nourishing the 
earth Inj earth, wiiich has been found out in Britain and 
Gaul.” The Greeks called md^xMe-ucargiU-on “white clay,” 
which they used on land near Megara, 
It is, however, a work of supererogation to adduce the 
experience of Greek and Roman cultivators to prove the 
value of lime for the improvement of arated fields. Where, 
but in the limestone valleys of the great rivers and lakes 
of the United States do the armies of France and England, 
while fighting in eastern Europe, find, at this lime, an 
adequate supply of breadstufFs and provisions'? Without 
an abundance of the calcareous element in Western soils, 
it would be utterly impracticable to build up, as by magic, 
the infant cities of St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati and Buf- 
falo. As the work of a single State, constructed thirty 
years ago, the Erie Canal has commanded universal ad- 
miration. Its most imposing aqueduct is made blue 
a mest me a.cx OSS the Genesee River, and in a county that 
produces a million and a half bushels of wheat a year. 
Both London and Paris are surrounded by a limestone 
soil, and in early times both were only local market 
towns. 
Facts like those above cited, which might be multiplied 
to an indefinite length, are full of instruction. They tell 
the people of Georgia to use their numerous railways for 
the general distribution of lime as a manure. It is, indeed, 
one of the essential constituents of all agricultural plants' 
but not every thing that every soil lacks. We have no 
desire to magnify the importance of any substance taken 
out of the ground in the loi (nation of grain or cotton; but 
if the poor lands of any country are to be cultivated at a 
profit, their owners must have cheap time t\s a basis for the 
most economical production of rich stable manure, or its 
equivalent in field peas or clover. The litne lands of Ala- 
bama grow excellent clover as well as peas The poor 
granite soils of Georgia will grow neitiier at a good profit 
to the cultivator. Every year sheds new light on South- 
ei n agriculture, and hastens the time when our poor farms 
must either be improved or deserted. Legislatures and 
Railroad Companies can do much to prevent the latter, 
and encourage the former alternative. Without their co- 
operation, Science and Industry are powerless to remedy 
the lamentable evils so prominent in all the older planting 
Stares A patriotic citizen of Georgia has given twenty 
thousand dollars to aid in keeping public attention con- 
stantly directed to the permanent welfare of the great 
farming interest. The lamented Turrli.l says : “'Phe 
best torm of govenunt-nt foi a country where a system of 
Agriculture prevails tlvit is constantly tending to im- 
poverish the soil cannot long sustain a thrifty population, 
or be able to defend itself To avoid such a calamity, 
which there is reason tofearwill be our condition at no 
very distant day, the people of the Southern States must 
find the means of preserving their lands from destruction 
by bad tillage, which is so strikingly observable in fvery 
part ofthe country.” Rural economy informs us of the 
“means” referred to, and how to use them. But it is 
nearly, if not quite, impossible to practice sound farm 
economy where public sentiment is opposed to its prac 
tice. 
If all railroads were manage<I with an eye to future pro- 
fit as well as to immediate gains, they would carry mil- 
lions of tons of the raw materials of crops from where 
they abound to where they are needed for agricultural 
purposes. Now, their agricultural freight is alfin one di- 
rection — from the robbed land to the robber markets. 
Cities take every element of fruitfulness from the soil and 
give to the soil nothing whatever in return. In limestone 
districts, immense cities may be built up in this way, as 
we have already shown, but not so easily where the cal- 
careous element is wanting. In such countries, as in 
Belgium lirning and rnarting must be universally eccour- 
aged as the best possible public policy. 
Georgia has a high reputation for enterprise and public 
improvements of various kinds; and we trust that of land- 
improvement, on a broad and solid basis, will soon be 
ad(led to the list, 
A two-penny improvement of a few acres of cotton, 
I corn or wheat, stimulated by the premiums ofagricultural 
societies, is not the kind of reform needed by the South. 
She needs a general reform which ail may equally partici- 
pate in, and all enjoy the benefits of alike. Much of the 
land from Deleware to Alabama and Missi-ssippi is, by 
nature, deficient in lime. This fact is of no small moment 
in studying our true agricultural wants; and the writer 
places the fact distinctly before the reader that Southern 
railroads should carry the few things taken out of the 
eartlt in making crops to the places where crops are 
grown, as well as transport said crops to market. Air 
and water form so large a part of ail plants that one pound 
of manure will often produce five pounds of corn. Let 
public sentiment, then, earnestly promote the cheapest 
possible distribution of lime and all other fertilizers. 
L. 
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. — We have 
received the Prospectus of this new journal, and from our 
knowledge of the taste, skill and enterprise of the publish- 
er, we predict for it complete success. We append the 
plan of publication, terms, &c.; 
The country edition wiil contain the latest news^ mar- 
kets, and shipping list up to late on Thursday evening, 
and will be despatched on Friday. The New York 
edition will be published on Saturday morning, and con- 
tain the latest intelligence, markets, &c., &c., up to the 
latest hour on Friday night. 
Psice, 10 cents per copy. 
Six months Subscription, for 1 volume 00 
“ “ *2 volumes. . . 4 00 
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One copy of the Paper and Frank Leslie’s Gazette, $6 
per annum. 
One copy of the Paper and Frank Leslie’s New York 
Journal, 50. 
Snb.scription3and Communications should be addressed 
to Frank Leslie, 12 and 13 Sf)ruce street, New York, 
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
We quote below a few of the many kind notices with 
which our exchanges have favored us : 
Southern Cultivator.— The December number of this 
Agricultural paper is on our table. The contents are 
marked by the usual variety, ability and appropriateness. 
Of this publication, we can truthfully assert that it has 
been one of the main agencies in awakening a general and 
vital interest in Southern Agriculture — in directing the 
capital, skill and enterprise ofthe Southern planters into 
new and profitable fields, and thus in developing the re- 
sources of several Southern States. 
We commend this useful paper to all who feel an in- 
terest in Agricultural improvement ; and hope that it will 
receive the ample patronage which it richly merits. The 
first number of the 14th volume will be issued by the 
middle of next month. Price, Si per year. Address 
