206 
SOUTHEKN cultivator. 
potash and other elementary constituents of plants and 
animals. How ridiculous, then, to assume without the 
least proof or probability that an atom of lime, or water is 
constitutionally changed every time it, perchance, exists in 
the living cell of a plant, or animal for a few days, weeks, 
or years 1 Who doubts that the Author of nature keeps 
the atoms of pure water, and all the elements of things 
lerrestial, in the same unchanged purity ^ 
What we earnestly desire is to keep agricultural philoso- 
phers, and would-be philosophers, as closely as may be to 
the inductive system of reasoning. Let the critical reader 
who knows something of the difference between solids 
and fluids, between combustible blood and incombustible 
rocks, weigh well the following propositions : — “Let us 
suppose ten square yards of soil to be fertilized by 10 lbs. 
of bullocks blood, and another ten square yards of soil to 
be fertilized with the constituents which analysis shows 
to exist in 10 lbs, of blood, and that these constituents 
shall not only undergo the greatest degree of mechanical 
division by grinding, but they shall absolutely be placed 
in solution, and applied to the soil, still, notwithstanding 
this great mechanical subdivision, the ten yards fertilized 
with blood will yield double the amount of crop of that 
fertilized by the same constituents taken from the rocks.” 
Did not this humbug, like that of Signor Lattis, 
appear to make converts of really intelligent men, we 
should not notice it. But when this false doctrine is 
travelling over the country, as scientific gospel, may we 
not pertinently inquire, how Prof. Mapes will extract or- 
ganized nitrogen (the most important fertilizing ingredi- 
ent in blood) from any common “rock,” after he has 
ground it as much as he pleases % Naked comminuted 
rocks form a barren earth, (we cannot call it soil) mainly 
because such rocks and earths lack the fertilizing atoms 
inown to exist so largely in the “blood of bullocks.” The 
case put is not, therefore, a supposible one, because the 
thing supposed is as impossible in fact, as it is unsound in 
theory. No scientific reader needs to be told that all ele- 
mentary bodies, like iron, gold, lead, oxygen and carbon 
are minerals ; or that vegetable vitality, under fovorable 
circumstances, is able to combine and organize these 
minerals, (such as nature has adopted to the purpose) into 
the food of animals, man included. The agriculturist 
evinces his wisdom, or want of it, by the skill with 
which he uses all the minerals and organized elements of 
bis crops and domesticated animals. This is the test of 
his scientific and professional attainments. That know- 
ledge which is based on mere assertions in books or peri- 
odicals, may look well on paper ; but you may believe 
one who has tried it, it will not vjork well in practice on 
the farm. We yield to no one in our profound regard for 
the due consideration of the conditions of elementary mat- 
ter, whether solid, gaseous, or liquid, soluble or insoluble, 
organized or disorganized ; for all these ever- varying con- 
ditions are elements of power and wealth in the hands 
of those who know how to turn them to a profitabte ac- 
count. The close and careful study of things agricultural, 
is precisely what we contend for. It is equally unphilo- 
sophical and injurious to agricultural progress to make 
assertions like the following : “We all know that night- 
soil, urine of animals, stable manure, etc., produce effects 
in vegetable growth not to be arrived at by the use of the 
same constituents direct from rocks.” 
Instead of suggesting the possibility of extracting night- 
soil, urine and stable manure “direct from rocks,” how 
much better it would be to indicate the power of certain 
leguminous and other plants to imbibe the elements of 
these valuable fertilizers directly from the atmosphere and 
the subsoil for the use of the cultivator f In this way he 
may easily increase the aggregate quantity of organized 
food for man and beast on his farm, and also the materials 
for making an increased amount of rich manure. But 
plain, common -sense facts of this kind leave not room 
enough for the full exercise of the imagination. It craves 
the light and shade of more pleasing abstractions — the im- 
possible changes, from year to year, of the “ultimates of 
matter.” It is, however, the part of wisdom to learn what 
is knowable and be content therewith, rather than neglect 
that, and dive out of sight into the abyss of the “uncon- 
ditioned.” L. 
HOUSES AND MULES FOE THE SOUTH. 
The neglect of grain crops by the cotton planters of the- 
South, has been often and justly animadverted upon. The 
maxim — “produce, if possible, all of your home supplies 
at home" — cannot be too often or too deeply impressed 
upon the agricultural community of the Mississippi Val- 
ley South. 
But there is one corollary from this maxim, which so far 
we believe, has been but little agitated or .discussed. With 
every natural facility for growing fine horses and mutes,. 
all the cotton States (excepting a small portion of Tennes- 
see) are tributary to Kentucky and the Western States for 
their supplies of those usef ul and indispensable auxiliaries 
of man, whether engaged in agriculture or commerce. 
There is no reason why Tennessee, Arkansas, Missis- 
' sippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, should not raise all 
of their own horses and mules. There is no earthly reason 
why these States should not also raise all of their own 
corn, hogs, cows, &c. There is, likewise, no earthly rea- 
son why these States should not pay particular attention 
to the improvement of the breeds of all the different kinds 
of stock. 
It is sometimes said that the South is not a good grazing 
country, and, therefore, not suitable for growing fine stock 
A moment’s consideration will show that this is the pu-... 
rest “fudge.” The lowlands bordering upon every peren- 
nial stream in the South — from the lordly Tennesse to the 
smallest brook “singing its quiet tune,” are capable of 
being made, at little expense, the finest pastures in the 
world. 
Look at the Tennesse river bottom ; how many millions 
of acres are there, yet awaiting the occupancy of the graz- 
ier, to whose purposes they are better suited than to those 
of any other class of agriculturists ! So of Obion, Forked 
Deer, Hatchie, Wolf, Tallahatchie, the upper Tombigbee, 
and all the streams, large and small, of the South, includ- 
ing the mighty Mississippi, large portions of whose im- 
mense bottom are admirably adapted to all the require- 
ments of the stock-grower. 
When will the South be true to herself? When will 
Southern men learn their true policy ? When will they 
learn that everything produced at home — corn and horses, 
peas and hogs, potatoes and mules, shucks and sheep, 
brogans and beef — is a saving of always double, and often 
quadruple, of what the same article would cost, if they 
have it to buy % — Memphis Eagle d* Enquirer. 
WHEAT GEOWING IN LOUISIANA. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — The extensive circula- 
tion of your valuable journal throughout the South, in- 
duces me to apply to you for information upon a subject 
to which the intelligent farmers and planters of this Parish 
are now looking with much interest — the growth of 
wheat. The high price of flour and the difficulty we have 
experienced in obtaining it at any price for the last twelve 
months, have satisfied every body that we must put our 
own shoulders to the wheel if we desire to avoid a con- 
tinuance of the present state of things. Little or no at- 
tention has ever been paid to the growth of wheat in this 
part of the State. I do not know a single plantation or 
farm on which an acre of wheat is sown, and my ac- 
quaintance is general in this Parish. Yet, more than half 
a century since, the Spanish government planned and 
