146 
INDUCEMENTS FOR IMMIGRANTS ON JAMES RIVER. 
fertility by the application of inorganic manures 
(ashes) only, I wish to inquire whether the plan 
has been practically demonstrated ? Since the 
theory was first broached, several seasons have 
passed, during which, it might have been brought to 
the test of experiment. But, do we hear of soils, 
totally destitute of organic matter, having been 
brought to fertility by the application of the ashes of 
manure, or inorganic substances only % “ Liebig’s 
manure,” as it-is called, for the sale of which com¬ 
panies were formed in Europe, appears to have 
been constituted on the principle of this theory. 
How has it operated J I have not learned the re¬ 
sults of its use in many cases ; but in the “ Farm¬ 
ers’ Magazine,” for April, 1847, there is an account 
of some experiments with this manure, by Dr. 
Weissenborn, which indicated nothing in its favor. 
In the number of the same work, for December last, 
there is an essay by Thos. L. Colbeck, on “ Farm¬ 
yard Manure,” in which I notice the following re¬ 
mark :— C1 1 am rather sorry to say, that Liebig’s 
manure has not as yet answered all the expectations 
which were formed upon the announcement and 
sanctioned by a name we all respect so much.” ( b ) 
But it is thought that our western prairies furnish 
an example in proof of the soundness of the theory 
that none but inorganic manures are needful. Pre¬ 
vious to the occupancy of the section referred to, 
by the white settlers, the prairies were annually 
burned over by the Indians, and yet the annual 
growth of vegetation was not, in most cases, di¬ 
minished. This is the fact referred to as evidence 
that organic manures are unnecessary to fertility, 
and that it is only requisite to return the “ashes” 
of plants to the soil. Is this, however, a case in 
point ? The soil of the prairies is known to con¬ 
tain, in many instances, organic matter to a great 
depth. Those portions which are the most perma¬ 
nently productive are remarkable for the large 
proportion of vegetable matter properly mixed with 
mineral elements, and to. this mixture is generally 
(and no doubt correctly) attributed their great fertil¬ 
ity. No inference, therefore, in favor of the posi¬ 
tion alluded to, can be drawn from this case. To 
make out a fair argument, a soil should be taken, 
which contains no organic matter, and it should be 
rendered fertile and productive by inorganic ma¬ 
nures alone. 
Before the recollection of ail “ old things” shall 
have “ passed away,” I wish to call attention to 
one point. Liebig, in his “ Organic Chemistry,” 
states that carbonic acid, water, and ammonia, con¬ 
tain the elements necessary for the support of ani¬ 
mals and vegetables. “ And in regard to the use- 
fulness-and importance of humus , or vegetable mat¬ 
ter, in a state of decay, he says—“ It is not only a 
slow and constant source of carbonic acid % but is also 
a means by which the necessary nitrogen is conveyed 
to plants .” Now, to say nothing in regard to the 
first of these propositions, I wish to inquire what 
evidence is there, if any can be brought, to show 
that the latter proposition is unsound } It is not 
enough, merely, that Liebig himself repudiates it— 
the facts are wanted. . P. 
Albany , Feb. 9th , 1848. 
(a) It is "to be understood that our correspondent 
by no means underrates the value of charcoal and 
ammonia as fertilizers of the soil; for it is well 
known that these substances, either used by them¬ 
selves, or in combination wuth other materials, are 
requisite in growing most, if not all, of our culti¬ 
vated plants. 
(6 ) By referring to Mr. Main’s “Report on the 
Immediate Effects of Special Manures on Crops of 
1847,” as published in January last, in the Journal of 
Agriculture and the Transactions of the Highland 
and Agricultural Society of Scotland, it will be seen 
that Liebig’s “ Patent Manure” proved itself useful 
as a top-dressing for wheat and oats y but its real 
value, with one or two exceptions, resulted in a 
loss, from the expense attending its purchase and 
application. 
INDUCEMENTS FOR IMMIGRANTS ON JAMES 
RIVER. 
Notwithstanding the number of immigrants from 
the north, who have located themselves in various 
parts of Virginia, and the many who have recently 
visited the tide-water region of James River, few or 
none of them have, as yet, become purchasers or 
settlers; yet a more beautiful and a more healthful 
country I have never seen. Nature has here been 
prodigal of her favors, in affording a good natural 
soil, an abundance of marl, and excellent water. 
That noble river offers ample facilities to markets, 
for the sale of produce of every description, and to 
the immigrant, it presents many inducements. Lands 
can here be bought cheap , and of the best quality. 
It is true, much of the land has been worn out, or 
exhausted, by improvident and injudicious crop¬ 
ping—everything taken off, and nothing returned ; 
but there are many noble exceptions to this unfa¬ 
vorable state of things. Take, for instance, the 
Brandon, Coggins’Point, Shirley, Westover, Weya- 
noke, and other estates. These farms, I believe, 
have been, at a comparatively recent date, as unpro¬ 
ductive as much of the impoverished lands in their 
several neighborhoods ; and I hazard nothing in 
stating*, that almost every acre of land on the mar¬ 
gin of the river could easily and cheaply be made 
to yield an equal or a larger return of crops than 
these farms are now doing. 
On the estate, which I now occupy, seven or 
eight years ago, six bushels of wheat, and from ten 
to twelve bushels of corn, would have been con¬ 
sidered a high average crop per acre ; but last year 
540 acres yielded an average crop of 23- bushels 
per acre, of wheat, and 520 acres of corn produced 
an average of not less than 38 bushels per acre. 
These returns present a handsome and encouraging 
increase, which has been brought about with com¬ 
paratively little outlay, under a five-course rotation 
of crops; that is, corn, wheat, clover, wheat and 
clover, with the use of lime, gypsum, and the care¬ 
ful accumulation and application of manures made 
on the estate; and under an improved system of 
farming, there is no doubt but these returns might 
be doubled. 
Your correspondent, “ A New-Yorker,” I hope, 
will be able to extend his observations, and pre¬ 
sent your readers with his views of the capacities 
of this delightful region, and the inducements therein 
offered to immigrants. As above indicated, I con¬ 
sider this a healthy region of country, as a resi- 
