106 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
which a tropical cereal will perlorm all its vital func- 
tions '? Our common maize or corn is a tropical or semi- 
tropical plant, in a state of nature ; and in that respect re- 
sambles rice. Take corn from Lower Canada where it 
develops a ripe crop in from 70 to 90 days, to the hottest 
part ofLouisiana. Will the warmer soil, and atmosphere 
of the “Sunny South” permit one to expect that Canada 
■corn planted in a sugar-cane climate will be ready to har- 
vest in 35 or 45 days after the seed is put into the ground 1 
Will any acclimation of Northern seed corn at the South 
fbring it to maturity in a less time than it is grown in 
Canada, where it is said to ripen sometimes in two 
months from the time of planting 7 
We know not what influence Canada winters may 
liave on maize and other plants ; but the transition from 
severe cold in winter to the warmth of spring appears to 
have a remarkable elFect on the germination of seeds and 
the growth of plants — quickening all their vital process- 
es, as though nature was in a hurry to bring her veget- 
able offspring to the earliest possible maturity, before the 
return of Frost and Ice in early autumn. Where winter 
is unknown in its common Northern aspects, and where 
the warmth of a Northern summer extends through nine 
^r ten months in a year, nature is in no such hurry to 
drive vegetation at a rapid rate ; and Canada corn, instead 
of ripening in 70 days from the planting of the seed, soon 
learns to take 140 days in Louisiana to accomplish that 
object. 
Conceding, as all must, that both vegetable vitality and 
animal life adapt themselves, more or less, to changes in 
soil and climate, they yield, nevertheless, very little to any 
quack nostrums designed to stimulate “vitality” without 
adequate feeding. Manuring cereals and all other grasses 
is the true way to strengthen and hasten their growth; and 
this is no secret. But the idea of getting two crops of rice 
by the evolved from any mineral or vegetable ma- 
nure, needs the confirmation of repeated experiments in 
this country before its soundness can be admitted. Signor 
Germano Lattis says:— “You are aware, sir, that far 
from impairing the value of land, science has proved rice 
be a plant which actually improves the soil that pro- 
duces it.” 
If such were the fact in reference to rice, experience in 
its cultivation, not science, could alone prove the truth of 
the statement. Land cultivated in rice and irrigated in 
some way with fertilizing water, may gain from this 
source more of the elements of crops than it parts with, 
and thus increase in fruitfulness. But the statement as 
made above, without qualification, is obviously an error. 
L. 
GEOLOGICAL AKD AGEICTLTGEAL TEXT-BOOKS. 
Daniel Lee, M. D.: 
Dear Sir — You are aware that numbers of your readers 
look with great interest to your recommendation of Geo- 
logical Text-Books, in the February number of the Cul- 
tivator. I endorse your recommendation of Dr. Hitch- 
cock’s work, as well as the great works of Sir Charles 
Lyell — “Manual of Elementary Geology,” and his Prin- 
ciples of Geology. I thought, however, that I would call 
your attention to the concluding remark made by an able 
^reviewerof Toumby’s Geology of South Carolina, to the 
Boston Natural History Society. “Upon the whole, I do 
not know where the same amount of Valuable practical in- 
formation can be obtained in the same compass.” I quote 
from memory ; the Review was published in the American 
.Journal of Science and Art, about five years ago. One 
ought scarcely pass over this subject without alluding to 
ithe amount of information contained in the voluminous 
•Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, con- 
ducted by Owen, very recently published. 
But the great and the only way of mastering the sub. 
ject of Agricultural Geology, I have found to be this; 
Take first, say Prof, Shepard’s Mineralogy, and obtain 
a correct knowledge of the chemical constitution of 
Mineral substances — Quartz, Felspar, Mica, Hornblende, 
Talc, &c. The number of Minerals most deeply interest- 
ed in giving character to soil is not very great ; nor is it 
very difficult to learn to distinguish them by their physical 
appearances. These are indispensables in a practical 
point of view. Now it becomes easy to learn how these 
different minerals are united in the different Geological 
formations. Quartz, Felspar and Mica in the Granite, 
Felspar and Hornblende in Trap soils. Talc, &c., in Pro- 
togin e, &c. 
And it is very plain, recognizing the Mineralogical and 
Geological origin of the various soils, their chemical con- 
stitution is known at once, and the various changes they 
undergo, and characters they assume readily understood; 
their various characters, necessities and adaptations, re- 
cognized at a glance. If Albite takes the place of Felspar 
in any formation, we know at once we have soda instead 
of potash in the soil. 
These remarks are so generally and practically true as 
regards all the various Hypogene and fosiliferious strati- 
fied formations and soils, that the number of soils that 
really need an analysis to understand them is very limited 
indeed ; and happily so, for their characters vary so often 
even in the same field, that the latter method becomes 
quite impracticable. The great concern of agriculture is 
this proper understanding of the characters of the various 
soils, and the most, and often the only profitable mode of 
improving them ; for improved land bears the same rela- 
tion to the success of agriculture, that improved machin- 
ery does to profits of manufacturing. There is a general 
truth that all soils originally fertile may be improved readi- 
ly ; those originally poor are improved with difficulty. 
Nature shows, without liability to error, what effect the 
salts or other elements of soils have upon them. Calcari- 
ous soils of fair physical properties destitute of organic mat- 
ter, by denudation, or exhausted from cultivation, if rest- 
ed, improve much more rapidly than those destitute of 
lime. Lime, if the soil is allowed repose during summer, 
generates vegetable matter. Lime never can be. brought, in 
our climate, to decompose vegetable matter. If applied in 
the condition of oxide or quick lime, it remains in that 
condition but a few moments. It cannot be preserved in 
the condition of an alkali in any soil. If it does act as an 
alkali, it does that much harm to the soil. 
The generally small amount of vegetable matters exist- 
ing in all the soils of warm climates is too speedily ex- 
hausted by the decomposing agencies of heat and mois- 
ture. But the subject of using lime or other substance to 
generate vegetable matter is a very different affair, and all 
the failures that have resulted from the application of cal- 
carious manures, in warm climates, have resulted from a 
misconception of the subject. On the very same Geolo- 
gical or chemical soil farther North, where peat- moss and 
other cryptogamic vegetables are disposed to obtrude, the 
applications would have been successful. There are cer- 
tain formations rich in lime, potash and other inorganic 
and organic elements, but from position, the condition in 
which the elements exist, and the physical properties of 
the soils they are worthless. I only mention those sub- 
jects to show that by observing formations, and the effects 
of salts or other substances derived from minerals, and 
contained in soils, we obtain a knowledge of their proper- 
ties, immensely valuable, and to be obtained from no 
other source. Very respectfully, &c., 
Wm. D. Kersh, M. D. 
Winsboro, S. C., Feb., 1855. 
P. S.— Those acquainted with the Trap formations of 
this State, or, indeed, with the purely retentive soils any- 
where, will understand to what I refer. Wherever Nature 
