76 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
fresh lo encoursse the planters to naake the ne- 
cessary exertions to preyent a catastrophe so 
deplorable. A little time and labor spent in 
hill-side ditching, a li'tle trouble now taken in 
the manufacture and application of manure, 
and a little judgment exercised in the rotation 
of crops and resting of lands, will now accom- 
plish ten times the amount of good that they 
would do ten years from the present time. 
Very respectfully, 
Thomas A. Brown, Secretary. 
Talbolton, April 3, 1846. 
Barbour Co. (Ala.,) Agricultural Society. 
Edfaula, April 4ck, 1846. 
The Society met in Eufaula according to ad- 
journment, in the Town Hall, at 11 o’clock, A. 
M., when, the President not being present, John 
A. Calhoun, one of the Vice-Presidents, took 
the Chair; and the Secretary not being present, 
Mr. A. McGehee was appointed Secretary pro 
tem. A communication was receiyed from the 
President, John M. Raiford, announcing ill 
health as ihe reason of his non-attendance. 
John A. Calhoun, Esq , and Col. McDonald, 
who were appointed, at a previous meeting. 
Chairman of Committees to make reports — the 
first on the police of our negroes— the second, 
to report on the best means of avoiding the ef- 
fects of drought on our crops — were excused 
from reporting at this, and were allowed until 
the next, meeting of the Society to report. 
Col. McDonald submitted some appropriate 
remarks upon the eSects of deep plowing, as a 
means of preventing the effects of drought — 
contending that in proportion as our lands were 
thoroughly and deeply broken up, we would be 
able to n itigatc the effects ofdrought. He also 
referred lo the beneficial efl^ects of the subsoil 
plow, in loosening the under soils; and con- 
tended that in proportion as this under soil was 
kept open, would it become less heated and 
dried, and consequeniU' less affected by drought. 
He also referred to the beneficial effects of ma- 
nuring, and calLd for information as to the re- 
lative virtue of marl, muck andthe marsh muds 
of our swamp lands. 
Gen. R. C. Shorter submitted some appropri- 
ate remarks relative to deep plovvmg, and plant- 
ing corn in the middle or water furrow. He 
agr'ed with Col. McDonald as to the efl^ects of 
deep plowing, in the preparation of land, and 
expressed it as his opinion that the subsoil plow 
would be beneficially used in the bottom of the 
middle or water funow, under the place w’here 
the corn is planted, as a means of keeping open 
the soil into which the roots of the corn are to 
penetrate, &c. 
Mr. M. A. Browder was inclined to doubt as 
lo the propriety of planting corn in the water 
furrow, becau.se of the danger of its being wash- 
ed up by the rains ; but thought it might do if 
aside furrow was run so as to draw the water 
off. All were of opinion that if proper precau- 
tion was taken, and the ground was not too wet 
that planting in the water! urrow would be benefi- 
cial to corn, 
Mr. Paullin, in answer to Col. McDonald as 
to his experiments in mud and muck manuring, 
stated that he could not as yet say anything more 
than itiat he was trying some experiments, and 
that when he had ascertained the result, he 
would make them known to the Society. 
The remarks, of which a mere outline is 
giyen above, were highly interesting, and made 
in a pleasant and interesting manner. 
The Society then adjourned to meetatGlenn- 
ville in May next — when a flower show is ex- 
pected to take place. This is expected to be an 
interesting occasion, and we hope a large co'"- 
course of ladies will grace the meeting with their 
smiling May-like countenances. Notice will 
be given as to the day of the above meeting. 
John A. Calhoun, Piesident, 
A. McGehee, Secretary pro tem. 
Balsam of Turpentine. — Melt by a gentle 
heat black rosin 1 lb. ; remove the vessel from 
the fire and add o>i or turpentine 1 pint. 
Mauures— Their Application. 
On the subject of Manures much has been 
written and much has been said; still it is fer- 
tile and full of interest. The subject cannot, 
in my opinion, be too frequently agitated, or 
brought into view, or too strongly urged. 
When we consider how much the produc- 
tiveness of ourfarms depend on the manure 
heap, and how much this matter is at limes 
neglected, a few remarks, I trust, will not be 
unacceptable, and although familarto most of 
you, if they stimulate one person to apply them, 
who has hitherto neglected to do so, the object 
in making them will be attained 
The collection and application of manures 
I consider to be the grand secret in good farm- 
ing. It gives ns grass and grain. It is by a 
liberal application of manure that extraordina- 
ry crops have been obtained. It is consequently 
an object of minute attention to collect as much 
as possible, and to applv it in the most advan- 
tageous manner. Although there is little dan- 
ger of applying too great a quantity to land, it 
may be used to excess. Indian corn is a vora- 
cious feeder, and will bear a copious dressing, 
but the crops of small grain may be injured by 
manuring too highly. 
Manuring the soil forms a grand item in 
farming, both on account of its expense and its 
need to replenish (he land; it is therefore very 
important to know the art of managing this de- 
partment with the greatest economy, and pre- 
venting waste in any possible shape. 
Very few larmers ever have a sufficiency of 
animal manures for their potatoes. Hence re- 
course must be had toother means for augment- 
ing the manure heap. 
The great principle of all manures may be 
understood from this fact, that whatever ani- 
mal or vegetable substance dies, is converted 
into manures lor other plants in a living pro- 
cess of putrefaction. By this process it is 
gradually, but effectually decomposed ; and the 
parts are fitted for f ntering into new combina- 
tions, and for adding to the substance of the 
living plants. Thus, instead of nuisances, Na- 
ture furnishes manure, and no substance what- 
ever is lost. This is one of the beautiful and 
admirable laws of Nature ; and though we cannot 
investigate her very minute operations, we are 
able, by observation, to learn much, and by in- 
dustry to derive great advantages. 
A great deal has been said about the fertility 
of plants. Pulverized earth, water as an excre- 
ment, carbonaceous matter in a soluble state, 
various gaseous substances have been succes- 
sively in repute ; some plants have been suppo- 
sed to draw part of their food from the atmos- 
phere, in a larger proportion than others; and it 
has been thought that grain and green crops re- 
quire to be .supported with food proper to each 
class; and that one particular crop, on that ac- 
count, exhausts the substance on which it feeds 
if too frequently repeated. 
Practice has introduced more discoveries into 
agriculture, a>sisted by observation, than 
science. At the same time, though the man of 
science will not presume to dictate to the skill- 
ful practical farmer, he may not only improve 
but enlighten, and even give dignity to agricul- 
ture as an art, by rendering it in some degree a 
science. 
The application of manure depends on the 
natural state of the soil, and on the purposes for 
which it is to be applied. Observation and ex- 
perience determine how lo act and how to ap- 
ply; also how and when the application should 
be. Yet it would be of important use to the 
farmer, in remarkable cases, to call in the aid of 
science. Many expensive trials have been 
made in redeeming some soils, or turning them 
to usef ul purposes in vain. 
The farmer knows, or ought to know, that 
some soils v/ant solidity, and others ha‘’e too 
much , that some exceed in cohesion, others in 
looseness, and that a moderate degree of these 
properties is considered essential to fertility. 
With this view, sand is applied to tenacious 
clay; and day on sand and gravel. But these 
applications are not made in the strict order of 
manures; they are mechanically wanted, in or- 
der to give to the soils a proper consistence for 
admitting plants to grow in them, and to push 
their small roots without loosing hold, and at 
the same lime to feed in a regular manner, im- 
bibing in just proportion the moisture and nu- 
triment it contains without being either parched 
or burned. 
Putrid manures applied in proper quantities 
furnish direct nutriment for plants; and calca- 
reous manures probablv do the same, in some 
degree; but they certainly furnish indirectly, 
by resolving organic substances contained in 
the soil into a mucus assisted by moisture. At 
the same time these manures are always pro- 
ductive of mechanical effect, in opening and 
deepening the soils to which they are applied. 
From my own observation and experience, I 
have come to the conclusion that manure aris- 
ing fro'm animal and vegetable substances, 
should be exposed as little as possible to the 
sun, the air, and drenching rams, and when ap- 
plied to the soil, be immediately plovved in. It 
is my opinion also, that manure, when plowed 
in, cannot be kept too near ihe surface, provi- 
ded it is well mixed and so covered that the es- 
sence will be dissolved by rain, and taken up by 
the roots of the plants. So extremely minute 
are the mouths of the plants, that the nourishing 
parts of manure can enter there only in a state 
of solution by water. 
My object and aim is to make and get ma- 
nure; and to carry this into effect, nothing that 
would contribute in the least degree to increas- 
ing the manure heap is thrown away. I have 
always made it a practice of converting every 
article of rubbish and filth about my premises, 
weeds, and coarse grass around the fields and 
fences, into manure; and have even hauled 
sawdust, turner’s chips and sumach leaves, 
from the morocco dresser, to bed my cattle and 
absorb the urine previous to mixing in the com- 
post heap. I also haul anthracite coal ashes 
from the city, on which 1 set a high value for a 
top dressing on my meadows. 
But however correct and economical may be 
the manner of saving and applying manure, 
the quantity, it cannot be denied, still falls short 
of the farmer’s wants. How to apply this defi- 
ciency merits the deepest attention of the hus- 
bandman. 
I am an advocate for compost, and lor that 
purpose I mix all the produce of the cattle yard, 
the sheep yard, the horse stable, the pig stye, 
and the poultry house. 
The dung of the hog, owing to the greater 
fatness of the animal and the nature of its food, 
is the richest and strongest; that of the horse 
the most heating; that of cattle the coldest but 
the most durable. The dung of sheep is quick 
in operation; therefore the mixing of cattle, 
horse, hog, and sheep dung for all kinds of soils 
and ail kinds of crops is always to be preferred, 
as the one corrects the delects of the other, and 
prevents the fermenting process from going on 
too rapidly. 
The utility of fermented dung is proved from 
the little advantage derived from what is drop- 
ped upon the ground, and has not undergone 
that process. In the course of its being ferment- 
ed, also the seeds of weeds and the eggs of in- 
sects are destroyed. 
My yard is dishing, still it sometimes over- 
flows, and where the excess passes ofi^, I cause 
a basin to be excavated to retain the liquid. 
Near this basin, u'hich is outside the yard, 1 
place my compost heap, which I commence 
w’iih a layer of yard manure, about one foot in 
thickness; then a coat of shell lime and ashes; 
then a layer of turf; then a layer of horse, hog, 
or sheep dung; then a coat of soil, and so on, 
with such materials as are available. In short, 
everything of a fertilizing nature is placed in 
the heap, carrying up the sides square until 
the pile reaches to the height of from five to six 
feet. As the heap progresses, each layer is sat- 
urated with the liquid which escapes from the 
cattle yards, and then covered with fine soil to 
prevent the escape of the volatile parts of the 
