52 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
in raw produce, not less than 000,000, or 
£8 for each individual per annum. According 
to this estimate, the annual productof this great 
branch of national industry is S350,00i),000 
more than it was in 1755. Now, if it cost 
$350,000,000 to feed the increased population of 
9.000. 000 — to feed the present population of 17,- 
500.000, must cost nearly $700,000,000. By 
consulting another authority of more recent 
date, we are informed that in 1780 the island of 
Great Britain contained about 9,000,000 of in- 
habitants, it now contains nearly 20,000,000. 
The land has not increased in quantity, but the 
consumption of food has probably more than 
doubled. The importation from abroad has not 
increased to any important extent. By impro- 
ved management, therefore, the same area has 
been caused to yield double. The superficial 
area of Great Britain comprises about 57,000,- 
000 of acres, of which 31,000,000 are in culti- 
vation, about 13,000,000 are incapable of cul- 
ture, and the remaining ten millions are waste 
lands susceptible of improvement. The present 
population, therefore, is supported by the pro- 
duce of 34,000,000 acres, or every 31 acres raises 
food for twenty people. Suppose the ten mil- 
lions susceptible of improvement to be brought 
into such a state of culture as to maintain an 
equal proportion, they would raise food lor an 
additional population of about6.000,000, or sup- 
ply till the nurrber of its inhabitants reached 
26.000. 000.* 
We have an analogous instance of superior 
skill, as exhibited in the an of husbandry, 
among the Chinese. Their agricultural imple- 
ments are comparatively simple, and although 
hitherto excluded from intercourse with foreign 
nations, yet their su perior knowledge of the art 
of culture has enabled them, upon an area of 
1,200.000 acres of Land, to support a population 
of nearly 300,000,000 of people! Indeed, the 
progress in the science and practice of agricul- 
ture has been so great, in recent times, among 
the older civilized countries, that it has been 
confidently asserted by a popular writer, that 
within the next twenty years, Britain will, in all 
probability, become an exporting zoxinx.x'y . 
The inquiry naturally presents itself, hoiv 
have such astonishing results been realized! 
We reply, the application of scientific prin- 
ciples in the cultivation of the soil ; in other 
words, by making Agriculture a source of study 
and reflection. The farmer, of all other men, 
is the most deeply rooted in his prejudices. 
Taught from his earliest infancy to pnrsue a 
certain system of labor, trained up in the cus- 
toms and manners of his ancestors, guiding all 
of his important operations by the different lu- 
nar phases and meteorological ob.'-ervaiions, 
which are tohis mind ominous of good or evi,; 
any suggestions which may have a tendency to 
invalidate the stability of his faith are received 
with incredulity and suspicion. Even when ac- 
tual obsevation and experience have tested 
their superiority, he is tardy in adopting them 
and giving due credit to their efficacy. It is al- 
so true, that while ad other sciences have been 
fostered by governmental patronage, and the 
public mind has been educated in them. Agri- 
culture has been lelt to itself, neglected and de- 
spised. It is pleasing then to reflect, that as ne- 
cessity, the most successful opponent of opi- 
nionative notions, has invoked attention, the 
veil of Isii which has so long obscured the 
movements of this branch of industry has been 
partially removed, and a day has already dawn- 
ed whose invigorating influence is destined to 
elevate agriculture among the most certain, 
useful and popular of the sciences. The most 
rapacious intellects here find a field for the em- 
ployment of their noblest faculties. A plant it- 
self insignificant in appearance, yet in its 
structure it presents h striking analogy to the 
very perfection of Divine mechanism. Ls rad- 
ical extremity imbibing nutriment from the va- 
rious ingredients of the soil and atmosphere, it 
is conveyed in the form of sap through the 
trunk and branches to the leaves, there to un- 
dergo a process of aeration preparatory to im- 
parting its nutritious qualities to the plant, and 
finally that part V hich is no longer adapted to 
the purposes ot the economy is returned to the 
soil in the form of effete, or excrementitious 
matter. In the functions of the leaves we ob- 
serve a process analogous to that which the 
lungs perform in animals, namely, that of re- 
spiration. Here too, we observe in this chemi- 
cal laboratory, by the decomposition of certain 
gases, an explanation ot one of the means to 
which nature resorts, in the animal and vege- 
table kingdoms, fur maintaining a due supply 
of healthy atmospheric air. We are awmre that 
the air which we breathe is composed ot defi- 
nite proportions of oxygen and nitrogen gases, 
and a trace of carbonic acid gas. In the pro- 
cess of animal respiration, oxygen gas is ab- 
sorbed, as a certain portion of it is necessary to 
the support of animal existence, and carbonic 
acid gas is evolved, the inhalation of wliich 
produces instant death. We will readily per- 
ceive that from the countless numbers of ani- 
mals upon the lace of the earth, the atmosphere 
would soon become irrespirable from the pre- 
dominance of this deleterious agent, was there 
not a counterbalancing influence. But mark 
the munificence and providence of nature. 
Plants absorb carbonic acid and evolve oxvgen 
gas. That noxious agent, one atom of which 
if inspired into the lungs of at imals, uoiild 
produce immediate dissolution, is expended in 
imparting health, vigor and strengih to the 
whole vegetable world. Here, then, we cannot 
look with contempt upon the smallest twig or 
tenderest leaflet that dances in the breeze, fur 
truly we are measurably dependent upon it for 
the blithesome countenance and elastic step of 
health and happiness. This property of p'ants 
receiving nourishment from the atmosphere is 
a wise pn-visisn ot nature, r.nd it is ihe only 
rational method by which we are enabled to ac- 
count for the manner in which vegetation was 
originally supported, for veseiable mould, 
called by some humus, is the product of the 
decay of vegetable matter in the form of leaves, 
stems, &c. : and there havin.g l ecn no anterior 
provision or this kind, we are led to inler that 
the original plants must have been supplied 
with e.xtensive lealy expan.sions, receiving their 
nourishment chitfiy Ir Jin the air, and deniand- 
ing but a limited supply frrim ifie soil. 
By arriving at the conditions nece.s.sary for 
the development of plants, investigating the 
difiereni ingredients in the soil which are ap- 
propriated to the formation of certain poitions 
of the same plant, and becoming ac-^uainted 
with tho.se general physiological laws which 
operate in maintaining a healthy growth, has 
the art ot culture of the present clay attained its 
superiority. We must proceed in the rearing of 
plants upon a similar principle to that which 
we observe in our treattnent of inferior ani- 
mals when we wisfi to ontain a definite object. 
By pursuing a certain .system of legimen we 
have a development of the muscular tissue ; by 
a different course of treatment vve have a piedo- 
niinance of fatty matter. So with plants; be- 
sides heat, light, moisture, and the component 
parts of the atmosphere, there are certain sub- 
stances which exet a specific influence upcm 
distinct j;enera, and even upon separate portions 
of the same plant. Some require a predomi- 
nance of the silic-iles to afford .strengtli and du- 
rability to the stalks; all plants of the grass 
kind demand a large share of the silicate ol 
-potash; wheat requires a stilt larger alio wance 
of potash. One hundred parts of the .stalks of 
wheat yield 15 per cent, of ashes, while the 
same quan iiy ol the dry stalks of barley afford 
but 8, and ot oats only 4 per cent. It is evi- 
dent, then, that the same soil which would sup- 
peut but one crop of wheat would bear ihree of 
oats. In a thousand pounds of the clrv hay of 
rye grass and clover, we have of the rye R per 
een*. ol potash at.d 27 of silica; c)l clover, 19 
percent, of potash, and 3 of silica. 
These facts then afford a solution of the reason 
why oats are found to be so exhausting to 
lands; on aceount ol the great demand which 
they make upon a single ingredient in the soil, 
namely, silica. We are enabled to arrive at 
these deductions by the aid of chemical analy- 
sis. And here I may observe, that it is to che- 
mistry in its application to agrieultuie that we 
are indebted lor the astonishing results which 
have followed the labors of the scientific agri- 
cultuiist. 
The fertilizing properties of arable land are 
dependent upon many conditions. Upon its 
porosity, its ability to retain moisture, as well 
as upon the various ch<- mical compounds which 
are essential to the growuh ol plants. Pure 
sand alone is essentially barren, for aside from 
its absolute deficiency in nutritive agents, its 
loose and comparatively reticular consistence 
renders it unfit to retain a sufficient degree of 
moisture around the roots of plants. Rain, 
when it comes in contact with the earth, exerts 
a solvent agenc'^ upon many of the constituenls 
of the .'oil, and instead of there being a me- 
chanical impediment to its transit, causing 
its invigorating influence to be directly applied 
to theroois.it permeates more deeply and is 
hence lost. So, in lime of drought, not only 
does the riant suffer from defective nutriment, 
but ihe first relreshing breeze that passes by 
severs its fragile attachments and prostrates it. 
Clay alone, presents the opposite difficulty. By 
its consistence and impermeability to water it 
retains moisture too long. There is not free ac- 
cess of air and warmth to the roots, and the 
plant ag : in perishes. Itis, then, by an union ot 
the two, clay and sand, in definite propoitions, 
that we can expect to obtain a so’l mrimaitiing 
proper consistence to afford mechanical sup- 
port. as well as a sufficient degree ot porosity 
for the purposes of watering and ventilation, 
and having enough of the silicious ingredient to 
afford strength and durability to tl e st.nlk. Of 
cour.'e modifications to suit the (ffiniands of dif- 
ferent plants niav be desired. Thus, clav soils 
possessing a large proportion of potash, are ge- 
nera'ly acknowledged to be fetter adanted to the 
growth rf wheat; a considerable proportion of 
sand is requisite for barley, and a d(Cideahj san- 
dy loam lor i ve and oats. 
Having obtained a .soil, the chemical consti- 
tuents of which are most tavorafile to the growth 
ot plants, it is evi'^ent that a proper system of 
cultivation is absolutely necessary to success. 
As reasonably might we expect to observe all 
ihe diversified facii'iies of the human nArd to 
be possessed in the full vigor of peifeci maturi- 
ty by the Inoian in his stale cf savage wild'. ess, 
as to look for a maximum return cf grain upon 
even a virgin soil unaided iiyihe skillful hand 
of the husbandr.''an. InOerd, the diffr tent de- 
grees ol success which characterize the efforts 
ot agriculturists may be ascribed in a great 
measure, to the diligence and assidui'y w iih 
which each employs physical and mechanical 
means as well as to the lelati ve accuracy of their 
observations. 
[CONCI.UDEU IN OUR NEXT.] 
Potato .Telly. — The potato mav xvith ease he 
made into a r'ch and nutritious jelly, and the 
process should be gener: llv known. It is ns fol- 
lows: Let a couple of good sized, pu.niy pota- 
to! s bo washed, peejed and grated; tlir. \v the 
pulp thus procured in a basin of water and srir it 
well ; let it s’and a few minutes, and a sufTit !• nt 
qunntdy of stnreh will have fallen for the pur- 
pose, required ; P'Otr ofi the water, and pour on 
boiling water, stirring tbe starch tb.e v bile, and 
it will soon and sudder lv pass to tbe state of 
jelly. The only nicety required, is to be careful 
that the water is absolutely boiling otherwise 
the ciiauge will not lake place. On compaiing 
this jollv vciih that obtained from Renniida, a 
difficulty in discrimirnting between the two will 
be apparent. The diffirencc. however, becomes 
more obvious on applying su.qar to sweeten the 
jellies, for then tbesupeiior flavor of the potato 
jellv is at once perceived, and it is equal, if not 
siiporior, also to arrow root in its nutritious pro- 
perties. 
r.AZiNEss. — I.azin e.«s grows on people: it hegins in 
cobwebs and ends in iron chains. The more business 
a man has, the more he is able to accomplish ; (or he 
learns to economist his lime. 
' Johnston’s Agricultural Chemistry. 
