THE SOUTHERN CUITIVATOR. 
iobe lost for want of a little attention, it is not 
deemed important to enter on an}' discussion of 
their merits; especially as these, together with 
the proper modes of applying them, are fully 
set forth in all our agricultural journals, T'. e 
proceed, therefore, to our second division, viz; 
STIMULATING MANURES. 
The value of this class of manures depends, 
not so much on any direct impartalion of ibod 
to plants, as on their agency in exciting their or- 
gans to greater activity, in appropriating to 
their benefit the influences of the atmosphere, 
in combating their insect enemies, and in dis- 
solving th|i salts, neutralizing the acids, and im- 
proving the texture of the soil; as lime, marl, 
gypsum, ashes, saltpeti e, charcoal, soot, sand, 
cia}L &c. 
LIME, 
Lime has been long and extensively employ- 
ed in Europe as a tertilizer of the soil, and with 
such success as to induce an English writer of 
note (Aiorton on Soils,) to assert, that “the ma- 
jority ot soils cannot be cultivated to adumnlage 
till they are dressed with lime; and whether 
considered as an alternative, as a stimulent, or 
as a manure, it will be found to be the basis of 
good husbandry, and of more use than all other 
manures put together. Whenever lime has 
been properly applied, it has been constantly 
found to prove as much superior to dung, as 
dung is to the takings of the roads, or the pro- 
duce of a peat mine.” And says M. Puv'is, a 
distinguished French author, “In limed earth, j 
weeds and insects disappear. The earth tf too 
light acquires stiffness, and is lightened if too 
clayey. In the same soils, with the same ma- 
nure and the same tillage, by the addition to 
the ploughed la}ar of only one-thousandth part 
of lime, the products whether volatile or fixed, 
are increased in a wonderful manner; the soil 
of the lowest qualit}'- reaches the product of the 
second — the second rises one-half or more — and 
that of the best soil increases a fourth.” Yet, 
strange as it may seem, there exists even among 
English agriculturists the greatest diversity of 
opinion in regard to the propriety and mode of 
its application on different soils, and the admis- 
sion is heard on every hand, that extensive tracts 
of British soil have been rendered infertile by 
its use. 
Were we to hazard an opinion on a subject 
regarding which not only learned farmers but 
“learned doctors disagree,” we should say that 
the truth in the case was something like the fol- 
lowing. Vegetable matter becomes the food of 
plants only in a state of decomposition; of this 
process lime is a powerful promoter; when, 
therefore, lime is incorporated with a soil con- 
taining much undecomposed v'egetable matter, 
it rapidly prepares this matter for the use of 
plants; the immediate consequence is a great 
increase of vegetable products. But just in 
proportion to the crop produced, is the greatness 
of the draught upon tne soil. Persisting, there- 
fore, in the application alone of this mere excit- i 
ing, stimulating his soil to an unnatural axlivily, 
‘loithout supplying those nuiralivc substances which 
alone can sustain its strength, the farmer finds, 
ere long, to his cost, that he has “overdriven his 
beast,” — that he has tasked his soil beyond its 
capabilities, and is fast reducing it to a state of 
exhaustion. Duringthe early period of his ex- 
periments, while reaping his unwonted harvests, 
he could not sufficiently extol — now that he has 
closed the series and looks upon his jaded lands, 
he cannot enough decry the use of lime. 
Such is, we apprehend, the origin, to a great 
extent, of that diversity of opinion which exists 
in regard to the vl'ility oflime. ^Vere its appli- 
cation always judicious, and accompanied, 
when necessary, with an adequate supply of nu- 
tritive matters, the probability is that no .such 
disagreement would exist. Without, however, 
attempting to reconcile the multifareous and 
conflicting theories in relation to the use of this 
substance, we will proceed to notice some of the 
most obvious mode^f its action, and leave the 
intelligent farmer to produce from his own ex- 
periments, (for here experiments are best indes- 
pensable,) the practice adapted to his particular 
soil. W e observe, then, 
1. Lime acts as a specific food for certain 
plants; i. e. it enters as a natural element into 
the composition of their substances, so that 
without its presence they cannot be grown to 
perfection. For the production, therefore, of 
these plants, (as potatoes and wheat, for in- 
stance,) the existence of lime in the soil is ab- 
solutely necessary. Whether anj' given por- 
tion of soil is destitute of this earth or not — and 
upon that depends entirely the propriety of its 
application as a nutritive substance — can onl)' 
be determined by analysis. 
2. Lime has great efficiency in haslenvng the 
demy of animal and vegetable matters. This 
is the secret of its efficacy when applied to old, 
matted turfs, to all peaty soils, and to such lands 
of whatev'er description as abound in undecom- 
posed vegetable matter. To vegeta.ble matter 
in a soluble state, and to animal matters in gen- 
eral, being eas}' of decomposition, it is not 
deemed proper to apply this substance, its ten- 
dency being, according to Chaptal, to form in- 
soluble compounds, with almost all animal and 
vegetable substances that are soft, and thus to 
destroy their feriT'.entative properties. Loudon 
also maintains that “lime should never be appli- 
ed with animal manures, unless they be too 
rich, [I] or for the purpose of preventing nox- 
ious efliuvia; and that it is injurious when mix- 
ed with any common dung, and tends to render 
the extracive matter insoluble.” 
3. Lime has Ihe property of neutralizing any 
noxious vegetable acids, or metalic salts exist- 
ing in the soil; which properly indicates the fit- 
ness of its application on fields infested with 
sorrel, on some marshy lands, (previously di’ain- 
ed,) and on soils previously impregnated wdth 
the oxide of iron, or coperas. 
4. Lime acts as an alter nMtve, on both sili- 
cious and argillaceous soils, by the effect it has 
of giving greater adhesivene.'^s to the particles 
of the former, and of diminishing the tenacity 
and compactness of the latter. T o sandy lands, 
however, it should nofbe applied too liberally, 
as, if dealt out in large quantities, it will have 
the effect to form a kind of morter with the soil, 
and thus provm detrimental both to tillage and to 
vegetation. “Cla}'' land bears this species of 
amelioration better than lighter soils. It power- 
fully assists all adhesive soils; and when laid 
on hoi from the kiln upon deep clay, has been 
known to occasion a verj' great increase in the 
former crops .” — British Husbandry. 
5. From its cautic properties, lime is a valu- 
able assistant to the farmer in combating those 
numerous insect enemies which so often ruin 
his hopes bt’’ depredating upon his fruit trees, 
his grasses, and his cultivated crops. How far 
he may be able to avail himself of its aid in 
this respect, is onh' to be determined b}' a care- 
ful series of experiments. 
Finally, in the language of the wmrk last 
quoted, “It is mueli to be regretted that some 
more definite judgment has not been framed re- 
garding the properties of lime, the eflects of 
which are exposed to the most contradictory re- 
sults;” and some caution will be necessary in 
wiiatever trials may be made of it as a manure. 
It would be better that experiments on a small 
scale should precede the application of it on 
lands w'here its efficacy has not yet been proved. 
The quantity applied in general practice, to the 
acre, varies from 20 to 30 or 100 bushels, or 
even more, according to the character and cir- 
cumstances of the soil, (the lighter and poorer 
the soil, and the more it has been limed, the less 
the quantity,) and this dressing is repeated once 
in four or five years, care being taken to recruit 
occasionally the nutrative matters in the soil, 
without the co-operation of which, b}' unani- 
mous consent, the former substance would be 
w'orse than useless. W'hen employed without 
regard to its caustic properties, it should be 
-slacked, and then .spread evenly over the surface. 
and if the ground be intended for cul'.ivaiicn, it 
should be exposed for several months belore it 
is ploughed under. The efiect will not com- 
monly manifest itselt before the second or third 
year. 
[To Ise continued.] 
MANUFACTURE OP SII.K IN THE AUBURN PRI- 
SON, NEW YORK. 
As the subject of manufacturing Silk in one 
of the New York State Prisons, has been a mat- 
ter ol some interest to the public a year or two 
past, it will assuredl}’’ be acceptible to our read- 
ers to learn how the establishment is progress- 
ing. In the New York Tribune, of Feb. lOth, 
1843, we find a complete report oi the superin- 
tendent. by H. Polhemus Esq., to the inspectors 
of the prison. Vv” ere not the document so lengthy 
w'e w'ould be pleasedto lay the whole of it 
before our readers, but as it is, we must let ex- 
tracts suffice. 
The manufacture of Silk was commenced on 
the 20th of A4ay 1841, at the suggestion ol the 
Governor. Two convicts, without experience, 
were put to the work on a small twi-sting ma- 
chine. At the end ol six uionths machinery 
w'as built in the prison, and eight convicts add- 
ed to the tw'o operatives. Duringthe year 1842 
a steam engine was emplo3''ed in the establish- 
ment, and some forty hands gave themselves to 
the work. From the 20th of May, 1841. to the 
l-stofFeb. 1843, the manufactured articles a- 
mounted to $12,763 26. The agent says he has 
“no hesitation in declaring, that the business 
may be conveniently enlarged, during the pre- 
sent j'car so as to increase the force employed 
to lOO hands with an increase of profits exceed- 
ing 40 per cent and that it may be so extended 
as ultimately to employ' all the convict labor.” 
“The agent, therefore, feels himself authoriz- 
ed to congratulate the inspectors on the success- 
ful introduction of a new, most interesting and 
most useful department of industry, w'hich can 
be rendered at least as profitable as other modes 
of employing the convicts.” 
This, w-e have no idea is an exaggerated re- 
port for speculative purposes; for the agent only 
affirms that this busine.ss will as well repay for 
the labor as other employments. This is all 
w'e w'ant. We desire to see no patent plans to 
wealth, but let it be fully understood that feed- 
ing silk worms, and reeling cocoons will pay as 
w'ell as either mechanical or agricultural em- 
ployments, and many may be induced to embark 
in this vocation. This is the time of the year to 
put out our orchards and make other arrange- 
ments for the silk culture, and we ask our 
friends not to despair — silk will be grown and 
manufactured in the United States beyond 
doubt. T. F. 
Glauber Salts for Swine. — I have made 
some experiments on hog.s, which were very sa- 
tisfactory to myself. One day as I was return- 
ing from a .store, v/ith a paper of glauber salts, 
I thought I would go and take a look atmy hogs. 
It was in the evening, just before they' were fed. 
YtT'hile I was looking at them, the p.-iper hap- 
pened to burst, and the salts fell upon theground. 
The hogs devoured them greedilyx I thought I 
would tiy giving them some regularly' for a 
week, and see what effect it would have upon 
them. They' appeared more brisk and frolic- 
some, and i observed at the end of tiie week, 
that they increased rapidly' in weight to what 
they did formerly. They were then but six 
months old, and in about two months the;/ 
weighed 350 lbs., and judging from appearan- 
ces, 1 should thin.r tliey did not weigh more than 
200 before I gave them the salts. I observed it 
made their necks very' thick, their hind legs 
grew larger than their fore legs, and several 
hogs that were before black, became nearly' 
white, and they' all appeared to thrive well. 
Wm. Larkin. 
Albany Cultivator. 
They are few indeed who know how to be 
idle and innocent. 
