THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 31 
several othei' substances, some of which are 
most nutritive, are compounded of nearly the 
same original elements, it would seem possible, 
by animal chemistry, to convert them to saving 
lifej though all experiments with wood or char- 
coal failed. The German chemists have con- 
verted wood into very palatable bread, bj' roast- 
ing and pulverizing; but calcination, it lias been 
supposed, would destroy whatever powers of nu- 
trition wood might originally contain. The 
chemical action of vegetables seems to produce 
the least effect on coal, and not the least particle 
of it has ever been found in the structure of ve- 
getables, though mixed with the earth and water 
in which plants were growing, in the form of 
the most impalpable powder. Whether animal 
chemistry is able to do what A'egetable organiza- 
tion cannot, remains to be seen; though if there 
is no mistake in the statements alluded to, it 
would seem probable that this intractable sub- 
stance is, in some way, made subservient to the 
nutrition of animals . — Genesee Farmer. 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1343. 
POUDRETTE. 
The attention which this manure is exciting 
in every section of the country where it has been 
used to any extent, has induced us to lay before 
our readers, in this number, several articles in 
relation to it, to which we invite their attention. 
As yet it has been used to a very limited extent 
at the Sputh, but it is generail)' regarded such a 
valuable fertilizer, that the day is not far distant, 
we think, when its use will be very common. — 
We shall, therefore, with a view' to the promo- 
tion of its preparation and application by our 
fanners, continue to lay before them, all such 
facts as may come within our knowledge mla- 
tive to its preparation, or the advantages to be 
derived from its use; and if, in the mean time, 
any of them shall have, upon a fair trial, tested 
its merits, we shall feel grateful for the result of 
their experiments. 
CORNSTALK SUGAR. 
The interest W'hich this subject seems to be 
exciting throughout the country, and our desire 
to afford our readers all the information we have 
been able to obtain, have induced us to devote 
much of the space of the present number to its 
elucidation, for w'hich we are indebted to the 
veiy able report made to Congress by Mr. Ells- 
worth, the Commissioner of the Patent Office, 
and to the Southern Planter," from wffiich w'e 
obtain the directions of Dr. Naudain. From 
the facts alreadj' presented, w'e entertain no 
doubt that the production of sugar from corn- 
.stalks may be pursued profitably, and w'e trust 
that some of our enterprising planters will satis- 
factorily test its practicability, and give to the 
public the result of their experiments. 
The work is foolishly executed by many, 
which might be accomplished by a few. 
‘=BOOK FARMNG.” 
The prejudice existing, particularly in sec- 
tions of the country where little improvement 
has been made in the science of agriculture, 
against what is usually denominated "book farm- 
ing," is but too common, and is one of the great- 
est obstacles to the introduction of an improved 
system off culture. This prejudice is very gen- 
eral at the South, where the universal practice 
has been to cut down and exhaust lands, with- 
out any regard to improving the soil, or any ef- 
Ibrt to increase its production by that enlighten- 
ed system of culture which the science of agri- 
culture teaches. Aware of the existence of this 
feeling, and the great difficulty of effecting an 
innovation upon a system so long e.stablished 
among our planters, we entered upon the duties 
of publishing an agricultural jomnal, not with- 
out a proper estimate of the barriers that would 
interpose. Happily, howrever, for the success 
of the experiment, the exhausted state of a large 
portion of the lands, and the poor reward their 
culture affords to the laborer, are likely to con- 
tribute as muehj il not more, to the accom- 
plishment of the great revolution we have so 
much desired, than any essays, how'ever forcible 
or conclusive, that we could hope to present for 
the consideration of the planter: nevertheless 
W'e have deemed the follow'ing remarks of the 
editor of the ‘Farmers’ Register,” in wffiich 
he enforces so ably and happily the benefits 
that science is daily contributing to the advance- 
ment and improvement of agriculture, so ap- 
propriate, and so well adapted to this meridian, 
that Ave could not deny ourself the pleasure to 
give them a place, and invite the careful consid- 
eration of the reader. 
“All good farming is the result of science api 
plied to the practice of the agricultural art; and 
of late years, the advantages which the latter 
has received Irpm the former have been unex- 
ampled. The union of the^tw'O, in just propor- 
tions, makes the perfect farmer; it calls into ac- 
tion the energies of the mind; it leads to en- 
lightened experiment and investigation; and 
when men’s minds are brought into the exercise 
of their pow'ers, advancement in any profession 
is the natural consequence. There is no art or 
profession that requires mental exertion more 
than that of the farmer; and the ridicule which 
has been bestowed upon what is termed book- 
farming, is becoming now, in a great measure, 
obsolete. Every experiment which has been 
made in agriculture, unless accidental, has been 
effected by experiment, by inquiry, b}' investi- 
gation. The soil is the material on which we 
all have to work; and in order to render this 
material productive, certain agents are to be 
employed. The application of these agents 
may vary according to circumstances, but the 
leading principles are the same in all countries. 
Let the intelligent cultivator cast his eyes around 
him, and he will perceive how' much he is in- 
debted to others for the success which crowns 
his labors. His implements are constructed in 
reference to correct mechanical principle.s; his . 
manures ai e preserved and applied in conformi- 
ty to known laws; every mineral ingredient 
which he combines Avith the soil, has been ana- 
lyzed, and its virtues tested; and every just prin- 
ciple AA'hich governs him in his operations has 
been established by long and laborious investi- 
gation. With all the aids, howeA'er, which ag- 
riculture has deriA'ed from science, the practical 
part is still, with comparatively few exceptions, 
in a very rude state. ImproArement extend at a 
very gradual pace, eA'en Avith those means of 
diffusing information AA'hich the press offers to 
all. Witness the slow progress which has at- 
tended the use of marl in the south, Avhich, but 
for the unceasing exertions of one individual, 
AA’ould even at this time be but little knoAvn; and 
AAhichin fact continues to be unknoAA'nbe3’ond 
the limits of his OAvn influence. Lime also, a 
similar and no less powerful agent in the im- 
pr jA'ement of soils, has been scarcely used in 
the south, though the means of obtaining it aie 
at hand in numerous sections of the country. 
It is to elevate this depressed state of agricul- 
ture; to make the knoAv ledge of one the common 
property of all; to excite a state of activity in 
the public mind, and to improve the condition of 
the agricultural classes, that renders the neces- 
sity of agricultural periodicals indispensable. 
It is A'ery true, there may be much jn .such jour- 
nals AA-hii-h maj' not be immediatel)' available 
to the cultivator. But eA'en then, their general 
influences and tendencies are beneficial. He is 
enabled to keep pace Avith the improvements of 
his profession; his mind is gradually directed to 
a higher standard than that to Avhich he has 
been accustomed; he collects a general fund cf 
knoAvledge, Avhich AA'ill enable him, under prc- 
pitious circumstances, to conduct his operations 
intelligentlj' and successfully. He Avho is now- 
satisfied to moA'e along in the Avay his forefa- 
thers trod; to exhaust the soil Avithout returning 
an^- thing Avhich has been extracted from it; to 
dispense Avith the light Avhich has been sheet on 
his path by other minds, and to make no effort to 
enlighten others in return, is liA'ing forhimselt 
alone, and Aiill leav'e no AA'orks to folloAv after 
him. Agricultural, as Avell as all other infor- 
mation, is noAv purchased at a cheap rate; cheap; 
compared with'the benefits to be derirred from it. 
Undoubtedly a man ma}' burthen his mind with 
that which is purely speculath'e, as indeed he 
may reject everj' thing but AV'hat he has beeu 
w'ont to practice; but these are extremes, and 
the just medium lies between. It is, as we haA’e 
said, the union of science aed practice, the ap- 
plication of mind to the objects of daily pur- 
suit, that makes the best farmers in our country. 
But for this luiion, what Avould be the condition 
of those faimers who are noAv most successful! 
V/hat we learned from our fathers, wgs to im- 
poverish the soil by sev'ere .cropping. They 
kneAA’ nothing of piaster and lime and marl; 
they paid littTe or no attention to grasses and 
manures; but drew eA-erv' thing from the earth 
a kind soil would yield, wdthout repairing the 
exhaustion Avhich it suffered. It is obA'ious that 
Ave can no longer thrive on the same fields with- 
out great iraproA-ement in our husbandly. It is 
our manifest duty then to endeav'or to restore 
what has been lost, or else it may hereafter be 
justly said of us, that we haA'e eaten sour grapes, 
and our childrert’s teeth are set on edge. 
“The only effectual means that Ave are aAA-are 
of, calculated to diffuse the infoimation of which 
the farming community stands in need, are, ie- 
gislatiA'e action in some foim or other; agricul- 
tural schools, agricultural associations, consti- 
tuted on correct principles, and agricultural 
journals. Legislative action, for any efficient 
purpose, appears to be out of the question. Our 
egi.slative bodies are too intent on politics, and 
politics is a subject of loo absorbing a nature, 
to permit any thing not connected Avith it to 
claim the attention it deserAres. EA'en the edu- 
catirn of our youth, notAvithstanding conA'en- 
tions haA'e assembled, and numerous memorials 
haA'e been presented to the legislature, and not- 
withstanding ei'ery man is convinced that the 
present system is productive of no positive ben- 
efit, and ought to be superseded by a better; even 
this great subject is almost utterly neglected, so 
far as legislatiA'e action is concerned. Agricul- 
tural schools would be an admirable means of 
doing good; but as long as their establishment 
depends on individual exertion, it is in A'ain to 
expect to see them in operation. Nothing avail- 
able then remains but agricultural societies and 
periodicals. 
“Of agricultural societies, we have elsew'here 
in this number of the Fanners’ Register ex- 
pressed our A'iews. They constitute a powerful 
