THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
101 
ciety with Sir Humphrey Davy, Chaptal and 
Liebig, and are made to know how chemistry 
and her kindred sciences subserve the purposes 
of man, and how the various manures are pre- 
pared and assimulated to the wants and perfec- 
tions of the vegetable kingdom. We thus, in a 
word, learn by associations ot this kind, to com- 
bine and concentrate scientific agricultural 
knowledge to all the practical purposes of life. 
But, again: an Agricultural Society would 
stimulate us to action — first, by reading works 
connected with the subject; secondly, by the car- 
rying out of any theory that we might regard as 
useful; thirdly, by an actual exhibit, betore the 
Society, of what had been the result of our la- 
bors, and lastly, by the pleasure that we would 
derive from having premiums awarded to those 
most skilful and successful in their operations. 
But again, sir, I have long looked upon our 
community as destitute of that source of ration- 
al enjoyment in which all might be participants 
without a sacrifice of moral feeling or moral 
principle; now, here, at a well regulated Agri- 
cultural Fair, held annually or semi-annually, 
it seems tome all might participate in the joys 
and festivities which could be thrown around an 
occasion like this. The sage farmer of sixty 
years, and his son of twenty, with the dignified 
old matron, and her daughter of blooming six- 
teen, with all the other avocations of life, might 
assemble here, and whilst this sage farmer 
would tell you in strains the simplest of the 
simple, how it was, under >he blessing of God, 
that he ploughed up his soil, and applied his 
compost manure, and reaped his harvest of gold; 
the aged matron, with her fair daughter, would 
tell how it was that she succeeded so well in 
the brilliancy and permanence of those colors 
that made her domestics the gaze and universal 
admiration of all around. These recitals would 
tell upon the youth of the country, and catch 
their admiring gaze, and thus they would disco- 
ver something in agricultural pursuits that 
would be attractive. 
If we look around us we must come to this 
conclusion, that if any country upon earth de- 
serves to be improved, we have that country. — 
We are indebted to improvement upon two 
counts; first, by butchery and then murder, we 
have ruined one of the best portions of the habi- 
table globe, either directly or as accessories af- 
ter the fact, and are, therefore, bound for its res- 
toration; and secondly, as good stewards, we are 
bound tor the improvement of the talents com- 
mitted to our charge. We could not, therefore, 
occupy our county, as it was originally, with- 
out being under obligation to its improvement; 
and just here I know we do not feel this moral 
obligation, or else we would be doing more than 
has heretofore been done in this important mat- 
ter. The question now arises, how can this im- 
provement be effected^ I answer, by Agricul- 
tural Societies, as furnishing information and 
offering stimulants to the community in this 
great and laudable enterprise. But, says one, 
all these Societies are alike — a mere bragologi- 
caX humbug — a safety valve through which a lew 
loquacious, babling, senseless dolts may pass 
off their steam, and there the whole machinery 
stops. Well, I admit the force of the objection, 
(for it has force,) but if in letting off the steam 
it should drive a few men to action, through 
whose instrumentality our national wealth shall 
be increased a few hundred bushels of wheat or 
com, then the Society will, at least, have done 
no barm; and if in this day of “humbug” no 
harm is done, we shall deserve commendation 
at the hands of our countrymen. 
But, sir, 1 am almost deterred from sending 
you this communication, and whyl Because 
it is too true that those who talk the most usual- 
ly perform the least, and that we scarcely see 
blended in the same man many words and many 
actions; hence, sir, I may anticipate the charge 
of being an agricultural writer, without being 
an agricultural worker or producer. But to be 
more serious on this subject, I ask what are we 
doing, or do we believe that any thing can be 
done, to improve our landsi Have we deter- 
mined upon any system of farming, and have 
we begun even with our acre of land to carry 
out this systeml Have we made any prepara- 
tions about our barn yards for manuring? or 
have we determined that it is easier to call in the 
neighbors and move the barn to a new place, 
than to go to the trouble of moving the manure 
from around the barn? Is there any thing to be 
learned from the age in which we live? If so, 
where shall we go, and how shall we learn it? 
Must we rely upon no other sources than our 
observation and experience for all the informa- 
tion we desire? You perceive these are ques- 
tions of importance, and mainly connected with 
our interest and future prosperity. 
I would suggest, sir, that a meeting take place 
preliminary to a meeting on the 4th of July, at 
which meeting a constitution and bye-laws 
could be prepared and then submitted to the sub- 
sequent meeting in July. The time has arrived 
when, I think, our farmers are ready for a So- 
ciety, and will respond to a call made on them 
at any time and place. Planter No. 2. 
Southern Miscellany. 
AMMONIA. 
Since the publication of Liebig’s work on 
vegetable chemistry, it has been assumed that 
the ammonia constituted the most valuable part 
of stable manure. To arrest and retain this vo- 
latile gas, then, has been the great desideratum. 
The use of plaster, the sulphate of lime, has 
been lecommended pk this purpose. It is ad- 
vised to be strewn over the stable litter before it 
is removed from the stall. In this case, Liebig 
says, a double decomposition will take place, 
from which will result sulphate of ammonia 
and carbonate of lime; by this means the am- 
monia will be retained in a soluble shape for the 
use of plants. Mr. Patridge, of New York, 
who proclaims himself a practised and experi- 
enced chemist, denies that any such action will 
result from the combination, at atmospheric 
temperature. Now, non componere lites, that is 
not for us to decide when doctors disagree. — 
But we see it recommended, possibly by way of 
settling this vexed question, to scatter common 
salt on the dung heap, or to water the litter of 
the stalls well with strong brine, an hour or two 
before removal. From this mixture result, it is 
said, muriate of ammonia and carbonate of so- 
da. In noticing this suggestion touching the 
salt, the editor ot the American Farmer, whose 
practical experience is worth a hundred theories 
of the most learned chemists, says, 
“We are not chemist enough to avouch for 
the action of salt in the manure heap as above 
described; but this we can state, that some years 
back, we bought twenty barrels of rotten fish to 
use as a manure for corn. In each of these 
barrels there were about half a bushel of fish 
salt, of course highly charged with the oil of 
the fish. After using the fish in the hills of 
corn, one to each, we mixed the salt with ten 
loads of barn yard and stable manure, suffering 
it to remain a few days, when we turned it over 
with the shovel and gave it a more thorough 
mixing. We then hauled it out to the field, 
and spread it on one half an acre; on an adjoin- 
ing half acre, we spread ten other loads of the 
same manure, but unmixed with salt. We 
ploughed up the piece of ground and planted 
the whole in com. The half acre of corn plant- 
ed on the ground fertilized with the salted ma- 
nure, grew from the start more luxuriantly, 
looked of a darker green throughout the season, 
and yielded more grain than that on the adjoin- 
ing half, though the soils were precisely alike, 
and each had received the same quantity of 
bam-yard and stable manure, and the same cul- 
ture. The blades on the salted part maintained 
their greenness until pulled, although those on 
the other part, when pulled, were considerably 
fired. It is here worthy of remark that the ears 
on the former were some days later in harden- 
ing. 
“We have stated the above fact, and without 
refering the result of oar experiment, at the 
time, to any chemical combination between the 
salt and the ammonia of the manure, we were 
induced by our observation of the effect produ- 
ced, to conclude that the salt used, had imparted 
to the earth the capacity of attracting from the at- 
mosphere more moisture, as well as that of pre=> 
serving it longer from the evaporating influence 
of the sun’s rays; for the surface of the earth 
always looked, and was, in fact, much more 
moist than that of the contiguous piece of 
ground. What we looked upon at the time as 
unevaporated dew, may have been the ammonia 
abstracted from the atmosphere, and fixed thro’ 
the chemical agency of the salt upon the sur- 
face, and there made to await absorption by the 
earth, thence to be taken up by the roots of the 
plants as nutriment. It this union takes place, 
and we have no right to question it, for the re- 
sult of our experiment would seem to corrobo- 
rate the assumption, salt must form a most val- 
uable ac quisition to the dung heap, as any sub- 
stance not too costly, which can give fixedness 
to the eliminating properties of manure — which, 
can prevent the escape of the rich gases — must 
operate greatly to the advantage of the husband- 
man, because it would impart to his fertilizing 
materials, a degree of durability which alone 
they do not possess — and this property of salt, 
we should think, would be greatly increased in. 
value, in sandy and other porous soils, where, 
as it is known, the effects of manure are much 
less lasting, owing to the escape ot its volatile 
parts. 
“But whether the chemical action imputed to 
the salt be as stated or not, we have no hesita- 
tion in affirming, that every farmer who can 
afford' to incur the cost, should procure a few 
bushels per acre, to mix with his manure inten- 
ded for his corn ground, as it would prevent in- 
jury from the cut and grub worm, as was prov- 
ed % our experiment; for although the com on 
that portion of the ground where the unsalted 
manure was used, suffered greatly from the ra- 
vages of these enemies, that on the part where 
the salted manure was used, escaped without 
any injury from them. 
“The quantity of salt used by us was greater 
than we recommend. It was at the rate of 20 
bushely per acre; having it, we used the whole 
as stated; but we think that five bushels per 
acre would have answered equally well for the 
time being. In otherj experiments which we 
have made with salt, in sowing it broadcast 
over turnep ground, after it was manured, plow- 
ed and harrowed, we only used six bushels per 
acre, and witnessed the finest effects from it oa 
a com crop grown on the ground the succeeding 
year.” — Southern Planter. 
REARING CALVES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker. — I maintain 
that the way nature points out for animals, is 
the most proper for them. At any rate, if a 
calf sucks from a cow half that she gives, it 
benefits him more than though the same be fed 
to him. Of this I am positive. We generally 
take a cow that gives a good mess, and let two 
calves suck her, and they frequently get quite 
fat with this chance, seem to wean better, win- 
ter better, and make thiiltier cattle than those 
we never let suck. Around the bars ol the calf 
pasture, you can easily make a pen with four 
or five boards and a few stakes; stick the stakes 
one or two inches apart; put a pin through them 
for the board to rest on, so high that the calves 
can run under them. Let me use this pen, and 
you may use your stool, and I will feed ten. 
calves my way, quicker and better than you 
would two the old way, by milking and feeding 
in a pail; and I think my cows would give the 
most milk too. A couple of calves striving to 
get more milk every time, I think would have a 
tendency to increase the quantity, or else nature 
has not provided lor this emergency as she has 
for other ones. — Albany Cultivator. 
To PREVENT THE FLAVOR OF TURNEPS OK 
Butter. — A little saltpetre added to the cream 
just before churning, will prevent the disagreea- 
ble flavor arising from the feeding of ruta bagas. 
