Newspapers / North Carolina Republican (Goldsboro, … / Nov. 15, 1848, edition 1 / Page 1
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I -. 1- ,i .J"' 41 4.' "' C.T A ii. .'fTM,1 -firm's . i . .j 1 ?.;" hi v; . --.-OH-- iii-.h'.K -rvj.V, : . V.'t 1 ,i. - ' I I J " :' 1 if 1 Me lar, r PRIZE ESSAY . : ; - c?f the; 7; ji&d Vation of wQrN buTL And, Sy ZSdward Stabler, " fif Saridy ' Spring, Mdntgo7ntry Co. Mil. J i-fhe Publisher of th e A At 15 R I G A N FA R MER having. offered $100 for the three best Essays on the above subject, viz : $50 ' for the first, $30 for the second and $20 " for'ihe third tlu Committee appointed for "Ahe purpose,consisting of Dr. J. W. Thomp . w, of Deiaware. dnd Judge Chamber Messrs. C. B. Calvert, A Bowie Davis, " and N. B. Wortiiixgton, of Maryland, unanimously awarded to the following the . . first Prize. l . t - ; vW submitting he following Essay upon 'the n tlehovation of Worn-out Lands," it is deemed proper to state, that the writer under Tstands the main oWecbrtcVicw cf the Editor ot the American Fatmer, to be, the eliciting "of such information as is best adapted to the Vvants df the great majority of farmers; those iho are deehderit on the. product of the soil Tor a support, and whose resources are com- ; paraiiveiy liiiiueu , lor aiuiuugu it. may ue 'equally desirable to thoe with , more ample means, to improve their lands at the least ex pense of time and money, yet the number of Bu'ch is comparatively small ; and it is not per ceived why the same plan may not suit both : the one who " lives by the sweat of his brow" improves his ten: acres, while he with the x: plethoric purse," may in the same time, en rich his hundred acres. With the view, there fore, to adapt it to the more numerous class . "Vif readers, the effort will be made to condense the essay as much as possible ; and so plain, and free from technicalities, that " he that runs " may read." It is alniost impossible to establish a theory, or mode of farming, that can be made to suit alike, all localities of soil, climate, and the ' facilities of obtaining the various kinds of manure,' now in .use in different sections of r the couijtry. But it is believed that with proper energy and industry on the part of laimerSj and even with the present laciiities ol transportation, an increase of double, if not quadhuple the lime, marl, and bones might be used to advantage ; the two former, in ma ny sections of our country are inexhaustible for generations to come: and a much greater emount of the latter might be obtained in sec tions where they are not used, but greatly needed, if more attention was paid to their collection and preservation. - The first step I would advise towards the " Renovation of Worn-out Lands.' is a com pleteand thorough draining, both surface and under drains, where the location and nature of the soil renders it too retentive of moisture late fn the spring. It retards early seeding the winter grains and grasst roots are very lia ble to be thrown out and injured by frosts; and on such land, the drought is much more severely felt. The writer has not known a - . case where this operation was performed with , ordinary skill and judgement, that did not ful ; ly repay the expense ; and in some cases the ! product was increased from five to ten fold. ! -" , To go into a full description of the methods - : used in different sections, to accomplish this V most important" branch of the husbandman's ( I duty, would require diagrams, and also too i t much space : nor is it considered necessary ; for in the "American Farmer," (which "eve ry tiller of the soil 'ought to possess) very full and amply information may be obtained on the subject. A few general observations here, may suffice. If the soil is rendered too wet by springs, whose sources are lower than the surrounding land, the drains must be exten ded to at least the same level, be the distance and depth what they may; or to a sufficient depth below the surface, to admit of under - draining clear ol" the plough. This may sometimes be effected, by going through the day sub-soit, and without much expense of ditching; as the water can then pass otrthro. the under-stratuln of gravel, or sand. Wherever the under drains will answer the purpose, they should be adopted ; for the land thus reclaimed is often the most profita ble for cultivation : and where the expense of brick, or tile, is too great, or suitable stone cannot be had to construct trunk drains, a good substitute is generally within reach, by 12 to 15 inches in depth of small loose stones; covering first with leaves, straw, or small brush, to prevent filling the interstices with the returned earth. Logs or poles, laid length wise, also form good under drains: but are tnore liable to clog from decay. The next important'step in my-opinion, in c Renovating Worn-out Lands," is to plough deep, and thus expose a new. surface to the ac tion of frost, and atmospheric influence, in or der to make a soil in?place of the one provi- uear by nature; but which either from cupid Hy.or bad management perhaps both man has destroyed. ,It is considered one of the Wost certain means to attain this desirable end : and although sub-soil ploughing is ful J aWrJved of, it is considered less important 'irt?ak up llle earlh from 7 10 10 inches 'icd to 1UCnt trealincnt is properly atten- Ztxis vare, that there is a indivM,,' ?VPreJJice in minds of many i1P ornr, f ' ot 11115 praztice. vv nai. are. ftK 4" 4v0cales- of shal,ow "cinznU .1 , y sa.V m so many words, L.. f,a K we shall um up so r iu nsr tu r;iinef l " titi a- itt nil il tWO OrtVlro.- "I r -M 1 in tVia meiies oi son is uui- of cl andthuleftwi r -b, uuutra oed ot 5 orbincnes P'paraiipn fo further aid, pr r a crop that season, the result general I, r i. . . . That shallow Much m' ales- tlie farmer to get clear i-C ma,, - .caauy oi the little sod or mould, is worn-out lands, is suscep- th:v -:y ueionstration nor isfrit less so. 5h ' viLI I Pr in a v -1 CT9n frn ,u J U1 VCry aTy 5RasullJ Pflr Hunt J Dnnff ,C- ause generally suffers, ummer months the greater : r,.- . le ram fnll h.f:i.. . .i ; sufficient j ,1S not oPened and pervious to : :rnius Ura.QePth to imbibe the whole, before 1 com ".Peeate, and be absorbed rface bor?1 hxx0lh a large portion of the omes ZuiJand Tapidly passes off, or . washe9awayf" unless the land is perfect 'y level. .What remains, ater : being so tho roughly saturated, has a tendency to settle in to a 'r compact mass ; soon parting with1 its scanty! supply of moisture under a hot sum mer's sun, and. rendering i' impervious to thl roots of plants. If . a drought succeeds, a soil in such s.tat tan .atfofjjutj'a niepgie sun. pfbT-'&6iiured hdUtf- crop j' and' at a period too, when the greatest'amount is need ed. J Nearly all the plant imbibe ; more or less moisture from the earth thy their, roots ' and if this support is vitlvheid, they - cannot continue jr a healthy '.nd yigorous state : in deed so necessary is this element, that many oi our grass seeus, anu plants, will not only yegetate, but grow vigorously for a consider able period, with norother support to their rootsthan what can.. Jbe deprived from, pure .water; : t: :j ; . . ,'. I am confident that. in Sfeost of our lands that have become sterile, ihe cause is to be at tributed, more to shallow ploughing, and wash ing away of the little soil theypossessed, than to the extraction ot the vegetable nutriment, by the growth of plants; in fact it is almost a necessary consequence of this pernicious practice. If the toiling farmer or planter is able to purchase a dressing of mineral ma nure, or fortunate'enough to scrape together a scanty snpply of ..vegetable matter from the resources, of the iarm, a large portion ot it is carried off by the first dashing rain, to enrich still more, the beds bf creeks and rivers, Having stated some of-the disadvantages which attend shallow ploughing, we will now briefly enumerate some of the advantages of deep ploughing, when judiciously pursued. Ii) the successful cultivation of all our crops it is necessafy: that ample food be provided, and in an accessible fofm ; and that moisture, equally necessary, be administered, m neither too great nor too small quantities. This will probably be admitted by all, and it is presum ed the admission will, also be made, that the greatest amount of nourishment derived by all our field crops is from the earth. By deep ploughing, it rarely occurs that a fall ftim is so great or sudden, as completely to saturate the body of earth acted on by the plough;1 and until such is the case, but little danger is to be apprehended of " washing away ;" and just as little, that the plants will so socn re quire a renewal of moisture, caused by evap oration. The soil much longer retains its loose and friable texture, and enables the roots readily, to extend in all directions, in search of their appropriate nourishment ; for the. same reason, deep tilth admits of closer proximity of the plants, without sustaining equal' injury from drought, and turning yellow ; or firing, in common parlance. ? , I would ask the advocates of shallow plou rrhinor nr ihP cviwmjii system, as it has been aptly termed, if they have not observed! the beneficial effects, of earths taken out of cellars, wells, pi:s, &c , when applied to very poor land f And nave tney not observed . a luxuriant growth of grass and weeds on ditch banks and mill races ; even to the highest points, when level enough to retain the mois ture that falls I have often noticed such ef fects; and have almost uniformly observed, that if earth thus taken from belovV the sur face, was capable of being pulverized by frost or tillage, increased fertility was the result. Such being the case, is there any valid reason for supposing, that still nearer the surface, so much difference can exist, that while onp will render the same land sterile, the other will positively enrich it? If advantage will re sult from mixing with the sojl, the earth taken from many feet below the : surface and , that such is the case I have had repeated evidence, and using it for this express object I cannot perceive why a portion of the same fertilizing property may not be found in the earth, only a few inches or a foot below the surface. And last, though not least, in the catalogue of advantages, the all important item of ma nure, is rendered more available ; and conse quently, the land is both immediately and per manently benefitted j But deep ploughing alone, much as it is ad vocated, will not speedily make poor land rich. It also requires some judgement when, and to what extent it should be carried. Lands that are .to be ploughed much deeper than usu al, should be broken up in the fall ; no crop should be seeded the ensuing season, that does -. re a. -l i.: t. rnot aamu oi irequeni ploughing cu uunuwiuy, and if practicable give it a dressing before planting, (unless previously prepared for . the operation, by liming a year or two in advance) of lime, or some other kind of manure. These two branches, viz: Draining and Ploughing are considered important in the sys-j tern of renovation, and more might be added ;: but perhaps sufficient space has been devoted to them, with the further remark, that no land with a clay subsoil, should be ploughed either deep or shallow, when in a state too wet to crumble or break freely before the plough. - The injury is irreparable, at' least for that season, as nothing short of a winter's frost will effectually pulverize it. We will now proceed to the third impor tant step in the process of "renovating worn out lands.". The proper kind, and application f mnnnrps- viz' : stable manure, and vegeta ble matter produced by the farm ; lime, marl Kn-ic; jchf oriia.no. nlaster and turning u in green crops. j - It may be considered lmost au axiom in farminn- operations, that no one should; go in debt for any kind of manures, unless in favor ed situations where the pride is very low, and the transportation cheap, (except perhaps for lime) without first having fully availed him self of all his own resources; and his manure heap too, should be his first care. No farmer need ever be at a loss for profitable employ ment for himself and hands, in adding to his stock of this all important requisite to success ful operations ; and in preventing the loss and waste of what is already accumulated. When not necessarily otherwise engaged, the time : ii mtoA in many situations by naul- mg the lich earth, and decomposed vegetable . . i . nl-i tori in thf mnrsh es leaves, weeds, &c, and incorporating them with the contents of his barn yard ; independ ent of their own fertilizing properties, they are valuable as absorbents, to receive and retain the more volatile ingredient that otherwise iiThicn nas aauiuuu" - WEDNESDAY might be lost in the process of fermentation .M uctuurpusiuon; iew Dusneis oi piaster may: be used with much advantage for. the same object. .. - . : , : -'."? .; It was the maxim of a Wise man, who , be gan the Vorld with hbthing? and became in 'dependeritarid that too, without the charge ol dishonesty, or extortion ever having been alleged against hina that 44 a penny saved. is two pe'hee gained." , It is emphatically truet with regard to the saving, and judicious application of manure. " " v-- As ah evidence of what care and attention in regard to making and saving manure will accomplish, it is within the knowledge of the writer, that two loads of manure (with two yoke of oxen) have been hauled out this sea son, for every acre of arable land on the farm ; and wiih. a small excepttbiij produced on the (aria itself,; without extraneous aidl . ---As gennaine to our present purpose and object, I will -here remark, that many farmers whose lands most require " renovating,' keep too many horses pn nineteen cases out of twenty, and for nearly all farm purposes, one or two good yoke of Oxen are decidedly, pref erable. , They cost nemore at first, and will perform t wice the labor ; save in expense of harness, and still more in keeping ; and after working 5 or 6 years under good manage ment, are usually worth more than the first cost, for the shambles. ; Marl I can say but little from experi ence, in the use of calcareous manures; , but am fully satisfied both by information derived from others, and from penjpnal observation, that wherever if abounds, it might be made a mine of wEALTit to the' proprietor, and the adjacent dutucts; .which admit of water trans rjortation. ":-;s " ''"' The only apparent reason why they are not more so, is, either ignorance of its great ienuizing properues, or a iacK u me uecesa ry industry- to become rich, when every facility for the Durnose. is as it were, laid at their very doors. $The quantity of marl re I quired to the acre, to produce much beneficial result, does not aamu or extenaea iana trans portation : but there are thousands, if not tens of thousands of acres, borderinar on, and near tide water, both in this, and neighboring States, now thrown . out as - waste lands, be-j cause'they will no longer yield even a stinted growth of vegetation ; most, if not all of which, might readily bWreclaimed by the judicious use of marl ; and at one-fourth the cost per acre, that lands in the "in terior, originally no better, if so good, are made to yield 10 to 12 barrels of corn, or 30 to 40 bushels of wheat to the acre, I have been informed; by some of the large landed proprietors not owning, nor residing within less than 8 to 10 miles of the marl beds that a boat load of a thousand to twelve hundred bushels of marl; rich in carbonate of lime, could be delivered at many of their landings, at ari expense not exceeding P8 to $ 10. Yet not one bushel was ever used ! ! : But as was justly remarked, by one of these very intelligent and 'hospitable gentlemen, " it's no use to preach to a Zeecongregation," and a further remark or two will only be add ed ; not altogether without the hope that iome thing will eventually stir them up," and in duce a trial at least, of this valuable manure. It matters less, how wThen, or what quantity of Marl or Lime is applied ; only make the application, and that pretty liberally. Its application, like lime, is best made one, two or three years, and on the surface, before breaking up the land; and thus give it the benefit :of the winter's frosts and snows Undis solve and incorporate it with the soil. ? - Lime. This, next JLo the proper draining (when necessary : lor even lime will not ena ble us to dispense with it) and deep tillage, I consider tne most certain and permanent agent in " renovating worn-out lands," of any other substance with which I am" acquainted ; whether mineral, animal, or vegetable ; and when it can be obtained at a reasonable cost, even with some miles hauling in addition it is generally to be preferred, if only one kind of ''bought manure" is to be used. It may however be used freely in conjunction with all other manures, and with decided advan tage, if done with judgement. Alter many years experience in the Use of lime, I-would advise in aji cases where it can be accomplished, to spread it on the surface from 1 to 3 or 4 years, before the land is bro ken up. The effect of a single winter's frosts and rains, will more effectually dissolve and bring it into action, and benefit the succeed ing crop, as also the land itself, than is attain ed in a longer period, by ploughing it in as soon as applied. In this way also, a much larger quantity may be safely applied to the same land at a single dressing. -As there is qo loss to lime from atmospheric influence, it should be kept near the surface: and the pro per - quantity to use to the best advantage, can only be determined by the price, and the state the land may be in, at the time. With a good sod of grass roots to receive it, 100 or even 150 bushels to the acie, will do no harm : but on stiff clay, with little soil or mould on the surface, 50 bushels would be a very liber al application as a first-dressing, if put on im mediately after ploughing. Itwxmld be bet ter to apply a less quantity at fir.t, and re new it as soon as an increased growth of veg etation could be obtained. When lime is applied in very large quanti ties, and immediately incorporated with a poor soil, having little or no vegetable matter in it, the effect is to combine with the silicious particles, abounding more or less in all clay soils and form hard compact masses, that are not separated by years of after tillage. This mode, therefore, to say the least, is like "bu rying the talent ;" for so much capital lies dor mant, and neither benefits the farmer or -his land. Twenty-five orthirty bushels as a first application,' particularly if aided by even a light dressing of vegetable manure, will make a much quicker return for, the outlay. As to the modus operandi of lime much has been written ; and various, if not conflicting theories put forth ; nor do all agree as to the most judicious mode of application I consider it altogether unnecessary here, to attempt anyexplanation of the chemieal changes produced in the soil by its use or to give rriyown opinion on the subject, though ormea aner carerai observation ana from NOYEMBEH years experience. To the inexperiencedW ever, it is of much more Jmnorlance to be X formed how to use it to the fcst auvantae And as previously remarked, it is of still less consequence, ho, or when applied, so that IS DONE. - 5 , v . Lime will act very beneficia'llv: ? -rom experience, ou stiff tenacious clays and omiy as 'scarcelv'to-re-P2?"ClSe'S'e1 on the- But if used ur "iwances,- and without the aid Of any kind of manure, considerable lime SKfe melioration of the sun uo cApeciea. ' Theory without practice. n r. ry much weight wah it ; and on the mind of trie larmer generally speaking, it acts with lCBo ,u,.0 FCiapS man with most other class- .u xC wiuiuuuuy ; ior unless an array of iacis, or gooa evidence, is adduced to inspire conndence, ne is slow to change : thp. mnrp. so. when he knows that even a partial' failure in a single crop, trom exnerimAntlnn, ;.n u Sibly felt in his slender income, and perhaps for a year to come. Th5 fw;n extent at least, is all right and proper ; for ex nenments, to test any rtew theory, are best un dertaken on a limited scale: time mav h 1nt thereby but money may be saved in the end. I will now briefly give some nm,t f,v, practical t operation of my theory. Vly firsl application of lime to any extent. was 9nn uuaucia, uiuauy air siaiced, hauled 6 miles and applied to 4 acres ; just broken up for a corn crop, and narrowed in. This portion of me ueiu parucuiany, was so thoroughly ex hausted by previous bad management, that the yield of corn was only some 5 or 6 bushels to the acre; nor was the crop sensibly increas ed by the lime. As the main object in culti vation was to set ths "field in grass, the - corn was followed by a crop of small grain, and a liberal supply of clover and timothy seed and plaster; the latter producing no visible effect whatever ; and nearly all the grass seed , per ished, leaving the surface as bare as before. But before the field again came in course for cuttivation, the good effect of the lime was so evident by the growth of white clover a new variety in that viciwity that I was en couraged to lime the whole field containing about 12 acres, pd also including this 4 acres; put on as before, just after breaking up for corn. The crop on this portion, was increas ed fully 5 to 6 fold, over that adjoining, and but recently-limed ; thus liberally paying all expenses, and has continued ever since to pro duce profitable crops. Plaster now acts on it with marked effect. The first: application was made some -15 to 19 years since ; and to test the durability lime, these-4 acres have been kept for experiment, and without the ad dition of other manure ; except a portion, in tended for still further experiment. About 2 acres were sown in broad cast corn, with 200 lj)s. Peruvian Guano then : followed wheat on the 4 acres, and with 200 lbs. "Guano "to the acre, leaving 2 lands without guano. The corn was materially benefitted by the Guano; but the wheat was not benefitted by the previous application of it, though it was nearly or quite doubled, over the two lands left without any Guano : the wheat was har vested two 3'ears since; and no one could now point out by the growth of the clover, uniformly good on the whole, and equally limed, which portion had and which had no Guano '.he conclusion is, that the " renova ting " efiects of lime,? are thus far, ten times as durable as Guano j how'much longer re mains to be seen, r .Some nine or ten years since, .1 determined to reclaim an adjoining field, at whatever cost. I was told long previous by one of my neighbors who sold his farm, and removed to the west, m order to settle on better land, that the attempt would be fut'le; or, if it ever was made productive; it would cost a great deal more than the land was worth The prospect was forbidden ; for the larger por tion was as much reduced as could be, by shallow tillage, no manure, no grass seed sownand constant Washing, even to gullies and producing little else than running briars. It was brokeu up in the fall and winter, to a much greater depth than it was ever ploughed before ; sixty bushels of quick lime to the acre, wero applied in the spring, the ground well harrowed and planted in corn ; such poi tions as required it, having been well under drained some 2 to 3 acres- and which were about the amount that produced anything of a crop, or that more than paid the expense of ploughing. " A crop of oats and grassseed followed ; as it was not considered worth the trouble and expense to put in a crop;of wheat, on 2-3 of the field. After 6 or 7 years, the same field again coming in course, exactly the same plan was pursued, as to ploughing and lime ; but rather increasing the depth han otherwise. j The crop of corn though injured by the bud worm, was good- enabling me to do, what I rarely, or never done, before, sell from 1-4 to 1-3 of the crop. Oats follo wed, on about 2-3 of the field with somh 5 or 6 bushels of bones .. ' . . . . ,i I. tc the acre, and wheat on the balance, wun Guano : both heavy crops, and lodging over the greater Dart of the field. Then fol lowed a wheat crop on the whole ; manured as much as possible from the barn yard, and on the balance a light dressing of guano of some ouio iuo pounds to tne acre. The averao-e yield of the neld, was over thirty-three bushels to the acre, j; The results are attained with certainty ; for every fiield and lot are accurately survey ed, and the contents noted on the plat of the Farm ; and the product of this field was kept separate, threshed, and manured by itself. The greater portion suffered from the drought early last year ; and the harvesting was bad ly done, owing to the fallen and tangled state of the grain from a storm, about the time of ripening; but I have no doubt, several contig uous acres might have been selected on the lowest ground (the portion under drained) on wuu-u ine yieiu was over 4U bushels to th acre. This season, the same field yielded the heaviest crop of grass I ever harvested ; and on what was Originally the poorest part, there It was gleaned with the horse rake, and by the hogs ; yet sufficient 6eed was left on the land, to produce this year, a volunteer crop ; of wheat with the grass, estimated by many who saw it, as well worth hamstingi, k 4 is novy a luxuriant crop of second growth clo ver, and intended forseed, that is lodging over the whole, extent, We will estimate the profit and loss bv figures : lo bO bushelsiime, cost at the kiln, lb cents. - - - $9.60 7 years interest (though it paid ia t pasture in less time,) . - - 4.03 00 bushels of hme, cost at the kiln, 12 1-2 c ; - . - , 7.50 3 years interest . - - - - 1.35 6 bushels ground Bones, at Oc - 3.00 100 pounds Guano (African j - - 200 S27.48 ,V Contra. By 33bushels of wheat avc rage price sola at l.di $43.23 Estimate increase of corn crop, at least & barrels, at (and entirely owing to the lime,) , . - - ; - Estimate increase of Oat j " . crop 20 bushels, at 40c. - Estimate increase of Hay . 1 ton, - , ' Estimate value of clover seed, (for there would not have been one without.Jhe lime,) 11-2 bushat $ 4, ' 12.00 8.00 10.00 600 79 23 -."-I - . . 851.75 Making, in round numbers, S50 per acre-in favor of," renovating ;" nor is the estimate a ioreed one. The actual increase of the crops is greater than the amounts assumed ; and if a fair average was made of the wheat, in the joint crop of oats and wheat, 4ho aggregate result would be increased some $5 to 86 per acre. - . . There should, rjerha-os. in the view ofsomei .be a charge for draining, and for hauling and spreading the lime ; also lor the manure, for the crop of wheat ; and for the expense of har vesting the increased crop. w The, two former, were amply paid for , in the increased pasture ; and the manure, was no more than the actua.1 yield of the land it self, after the use of lime, &c which are charged in: the account, and at more than the cost ; and it is believed the Increased product in straw and fodder, fully repays the expenses of harvesting; lo say nothing of the ; present state of the Jand, as compared to what it was originally. It is now radically and perma nently, improved. 5 When Lime has been freely used, plaster will generally, df not always, act promptly and efficiently ; and thus at very small ex penge, materially aid in perpetuating the im provement. Previous to its application in this case, piaster was Jiberally used ; but with no visible effect whatever: now, its action is as marked on the 5ate land, as I have ever seen any where. - Wherever lime can be obtained at-a rea sonable price say from 12 to 20 cents per bushel in a caustic state (or at half pricey if air slaked) with even 5 to 10 miles hauling, it may be used to advantage on most, if not all stiff cjay soils. , In. some. sections theseprices are paid, and it is hauled 15 to 20 miles ; and by a class of men unsurpassed for industry and thrift. The writer has known no instance where its use was persevered in, under whatever disad vantage it might be, in which success, toa greater 'or less extent, did not crown the effort; &rhny haying borrowed money to pro cure it, in the first instance, have mainly by its use, become independent ; ! and money lenders themselves. . ; v Bones composed principally, of phosphate of lime, and gelatinous animal matter, when crushed or ground, form one7 6f the richest manures. . It acts well either afone, or wilh other manures ; and is particulaily valuable to aid. the growth of clover ; for this reason I class it decidedly before Guano, at an equal expenditure of money, for renovating " worn- out lands."- Although not so- prompt in act ing, it is far more durable, and more likely to produce a gootl crop of clover, to turn'under. Clover, being almost the only " green crop ' that I have found much advantage from turn-. mg m. I prefer its use. following the lime, and on the oat crop : at the rate of from 6 to 10 bush- Is or as much more as the renovator may please, for an increased quantity will do no injury, un tne wneat, succeeuing tne oais, ray practice is, to apply a light dressing ol Guano say 80 to 100 pounds to the acre, to mature and perfect the gram ; and only on such portions of the field, as the manure from the barn yard will not extend to. By the time the clover requires the aid of the bone, it will havo become sufficiently disintegrated and incorporated with the soil, to give the clover a vigorous start ; and its effect on the grass crops, is generally more durable than the vegetable manures. J The supply ofroaTwZboneisa'limited one; but when to be had at a reasonable price (usu ally selling at 40 to 50 ,cents the bushel) it may be used to advantage on all crops and on all soils; but with decidedly kss advan- tage, after passing through the alembicltot the glue manufacturer ; (as I have proved at least to my satisfaction); thus depriving it of mucn oi its iertilizmg property. It is usually harrowed in with seed, as it loses less by ex posure to the atmosphere, than most kinds of putrescent manures. - GuamThis is one of the most active of all manures ; and ii the price would justify the application in sufficient quantities, il might aid 'very materially m u renovating worn out lands." But considering the evan escent nature of its most aciive principle am monia, and thfi nrpspnt Kicrh maket nrice. viz: the Peruvian, at 860 to 870 and the more inferior L-i'r -,t SLA n fnr the ton of 2000 pounds, it is much doubted whether the ultimate advantage, calculated on by many, will be-realized. If the Peruvian could be obtained at about half this priceand it s believed uch would be the case wUJ f,- competition in the rcruvum -r- cas migm u,ur a$e of G(jan0; "hft writer nas mwo ..--- . ae"ZL" .t ceid after the .ecortU any uittk yeaJV - v.- f. r' This opinion, so different from ; thai enter tained by some others, is not lightly: formed, nor without several years careful observation,; . and also testing the matter by numerous exr periments.,and on a scale sufficiently extend-. ed, to prove the truth, or iallacyvot tne aoc trine held by some, that, it is only a stimuiani. Keterence to one experiment may sumce, as they all tend to the. same result, and .nearly to the same degree...' W -; v-.. . -'.s In a field of some 10 acres;-one acre was selected near the middle, and extending through the field, so as to embrace any differ ence of soil, should there be any. On : thii acre 200 pounds of Peruvian Guano, at a cost of about 5.00, were sown with whe'at. Adjoining the' Guano ou one side was ma nure from the barn yardj at the rate of 25 cart ldads to the acre ; and on the opposite side (separated by an. open drain the whole I distance) ground bones were applied on the balance of the held, at a cost of $6.00 to the acre : the field was equally limed two years preceding. There was no material difference in the time, or manner of seeding; except that the manure was lightly cross-ploughed in,land the Guano and. Bones harrowed in with the. wheat, ' , -. The yield on the guanoed acre was thirty five bushels ; the adjoining acre with .bone, as near as could be estimated by dozens, and the manured, about 24 bushels. The season was unusually dry ; and the. manured por tion suffered more from this cause than either of the others ; the land being considerably more elevated, and a south exposure.- . V The field has since been mowed three limes ; theirs crop o( grass was-, evidently in favor of the boned part ; . the second, and third, were fully two to one over the GuanOj and also yielding muchv heavier crops of clo ver seed- On a part of one land, 18 bushels to the acre of the finest of the bone were used; on this, the wheat was as heavy as on the gu anoed, andthe grass generally lodges before harvest, as it also does on much of the . ad joining land With -12 bushels of bone. Ihe action and durability of uano, prob ably vary on different soils , andalthough.it may generally be used to advantage in aid of a single crop, 1 have as yet, no satisfactory evidence,' that, its fertilizing properties are very durable ; unless applied in such quanti ties, as may in the end, " cost more than it comes to." Guano should not be used with caustic lime, or ashes ; nor very soon succeeding their application. It may with7 decided ad vantage be mixed with piaster to fix and re tain the ammonia ; and for nearly, if not all crops, it is best to sow it broadcast, and plough ' in immediately. ' . , j Leached Ashes. There are. few, or non e, who are ignorant of tne value of this; article as manure, t But as the supply is rarely, if ever equal to the demand, much need not be said on the subject At 8 to 10 cents per , bushel, if the cost of transportation is not too heavy, they may always be profitably used ; in durability they are next to lime, and the action immediate. Few comparatively, ex cept within the vicinity of cities or villages', or those with water or rail road facilities, cart procure, or afford to use them. Poudrett&nch. profit has not yet result ed in the use of this (the merchantable) arti cle, so far as I have observed its effects on my iown, or the crops of others. Such as I havb purchased, has as yet produced but slightly beneficial results on the crops to which it' was applied. Its fertilizing property wasj diffused through such a mass of inert matter, that I concluded with halfif not one third of the expense, more benefit might be derived from the purchase of some other kind" of manure. In the neighborhood -of cities, where a sup ply can be obtained without muchadu!tera- tion, its is use may be made very profitabh rnihg in G recn Crops.- This pU rohtable. lan oi -0 u renovating worn out lands," has long been advocated by many. I have also given it a, fair 'trial; and with the exception of -CloVer. as the green crop, little advantage has resulted from its adoption : very poor, land, without some extraneous aid, will not produce a green crop worth turning in. It is questionable whether the same amount of time and labor (suppocing; the occupant without the means to purchase manure of any kind) could hot be better employed on such land-, in adding to his stock, of manure, by composts prepar ed from decaying vegetable matter, alluvial soil, &Tc,, &c, abounding more or less on all farms. If the land possess fertility tc pro duce sufficient clover. for pasture, the( use of plaster either without, or certainly with the aidiof. liine,'will, with good management, make it yield a luxutiant crop. But it should be jborne in rriind.that to improve in this Way, little mowing, and less -pasturing, must be permitted. The land is not ony benefitted by what is turned in. but is also . materially aided in the prbress of renovation.' by what is left out, arid on the surface ; to shield and pro tect the soil from a paiching sun, prevent throwing out the clover roots by the winter frosts, and washing away of the soil, by heavy dashing rains. ' This brings to my mind another mftttrr, though perhaps not strictly " in the bargft.n, but which is of much more importance thar : many seem to be aware of; and as yet oni ; incidentally alluded to. It is theprr5,rrm of the land after it renovated, from wa : . e .l. nr.fl into rrullies. and . lnc away oi ue nu, ----- 7 . ug a .. rft ca ed: this is! r Sa' eUPr',,rr waier arrow, made with .touSSS. ough, and .hrowing the earth on thl ? lower .W I utlUtternpt a bneftfe. on scnption of mv plan ol operations; oui iui i out a diagram, some .may, possioiy De ai a 'JoSS. . A. .a. A A InAl The points to commence m aie ucicnuuitu by the eye; a cheap spirit level, costing but a trirle will soon give the termination with precision, and the proper inclination. The operator takes a station some 80 to 100 yards distant from the designated point; the assist ant haying the staff', with a moveable target, and also a bundle of stakes, some 2 to 3 feet Ion, places one in the . ground, and by its side raised the stafi and motes the target up down, lo range with the signt irom me lev el : the target is tnen raisea o incnes ana con fined by a sarew ; the assistant then walksl ?' ML 1W 49
North Carolina Republican (Goldsboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 15, 1848, edition 1
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