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The Friends of "The Farmer" Can do us a special service and favor, by making its re-issue known, and by commending it to their friends, as they have opportunity. They may feel perfectly assured that neither cost nor effort will be spared, to give it the full measure of value it had in former years, and to insure, by suitable improvements, its adaptation to the material changes which are now going on, in the system of agriculture of the Middle and Southern States.

Correspondents.

We shall be glad to hear from our friends in all parts of the country, upon topics of agricul

tural and horticultural interest. Whether designed for publication or not, their communications are interesting and useful to us. We wish especially to be kept informed as to the prospects and results of the crops of the season. Hereto. fore, we have been able to render valuable service to our readers, by information of this sort, gathered from all quarters.

Discussions of topics of agricultural interest, under proper restrictions, rarely fail to be useful, and usually excite much attention. It is difficult to estimate the influence upon Maryland, and Southern agriculture, of such a discussion as that which was published many years ago, in "The Farmer," between Cols. Capron and Carey, chiefly, upon the subject of land improvement in Maryland, or the subsequent one, between Mr. Edmund Ruffin, Dr. P. B. Pendleton, T. G. Clawson, Esq, and the present editor of "The Farmer," as to the action of lime on a certain class of soils We invite our friends to such discussions; and hope to enlist many of the ablest, and most intelligent agricultural writers of the day, in this, or other forms of communication with our readers.

MANUFACTURERS AND VENDERS OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY, and of the many valnable Fertilizers, offered for sale, we shall be glad to hear from, as to anything new and interesting in their several lines of business, and to afford them every facility for communicating with the agricultural community.

FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN are especially

invited to communicate such information as to

their specialties, as they deem desirable to have brought to notice.

STOCK GROWERS.-We shall have constant inquiries, from the South, for every description of improved stock, and wish to be properly informed as to the character of the flocks and herds accessible to Baltimore.

AYRSHIRE CATTLE.-There is but one thorough, and well-bred, herd of these valuable cattle in Maryland, that we know of,-that of Ramsay McHenry, Esq., of Harford county. Pure Berkshires, the best bacon hogs of the improved breeds, also, so far as we know, owe their present existence in Maryland to the good taste, in such matters, of the same gentleman. We shall be gladð to get information of any well-bred Ayrshires outside of Maryland.

NORMAN HORSES.-Slaughter W. Ficklin, Esq.. a noted breeder of blooded stock, near Charlottesville, Va., has just imported two Norman stallions and two mares of the same breed.

Southern Correspondence.

The state of affairs at the time, made it impossible for the notice which we gave of the suspension of "The American Farmer,' ," to reach our Southern subscribers. Having no other means of communicating with them, except so far as a limited correspondence could go, we have received very many letters of inquiry as to what has become of "The Farmer," and when a renewal of its visits may be expected. Most of these are long letters, written out of the fulness of the heart, giving sad recitals of the condition of things around the writers, but without exception in a hopeful and cheerful tone. We give a few extracts, which fairly represent the general character of this corrrespondence.

A gentleman near Richmond, who for twenty consecutive years has held high public positions in Virginia, having heard that "The Farmer' was about to be issued again, says:

"I cannot forbear the expression of my sincere congratulations on the revival of "The American Farmer." I have a few scattered volumes left me, and my delight has been to read and re-read them at leisure times. The # I have no hope middle of life, with ruined fortunes, and a large nor desire for public office again, and now, in the family, I have to seek a livelihood from the ground. I confidently look to "The American Farmer" to lighten my labors, &c. The old "Farmer" will be a most welcome visitor throughout

the length and breadth of the land, especially to me and mine. It was a great favorite in my household. Set me down as a subscriber, and if it takes a cow to pay the subscription, I should consider it cheap."

Of the present situation, he says: "I was unable to get the requisite team and seed to put in, even a few acres of wheat, and with everything to buy and nothing to sell, the prospect is very dark. The total destruction of my wood land

and fences, prevents my attempting any more than will secure my family subsistence. My condition is not singular by any means, I am sorry to say. The Sheriff, who called to-day to collect the State taxes, told me that he had levied, this morning, distresses, on two gentlemen, whose taxable property was assessed at $30,000. Apart from the grain and tobacco, nothing that we could rake up, would supply our great need of money, for if a sale could be effected, it would be at much below real value, or, to secure anything like a fair price, it would be on credit."

Of the wheat crop, he says: "The wheat crop in all this section, is simply miserable. I have not heard of a single lot of good wheat in this whole region, and such is the complaint of friends and acquaintances in other sections of the State. One-third of a crop is the highest estimate I have heard. I had hoped that with the new crop of wheat, I should be able to indulge in "wheaten bread," in the future-but I must hold on to corn bread another term, I reckon.”

Of the Freedmen's Bureau, he says: "It is, in all its ramifications, fraught with evil conse quences, both to white and black, and can never Le otherwise. So far as I know, we have all very kindly relations, not only to our former slaves, but the negro generally, and he reciprocates this feeling, when he is left to himself, free from the influences above referred to, and the continual efforts of Northern emissaries, in the shape of preachers and "school marms." Vast numbers of our old slaves have died, and very many more will have passed away, before the year shall have closed."

This letter was of the date of 31st of May.From another, written several months earlier, we extract as follows: "After an interval of four long years, I trust my letter will find you in good health, and prosperity,-ready, as "in days of yore," to assist and instruct your friends in old, and, I must now say, poor Virginia, and that the political events of the past four years, have not erased from your heart the kindly feelings, you formerly, (as I thought,) entertained for your brother farmers in this old commonwealth.

"You are aware of the prostration and exhaustion now existing within our borders, but the true condition of things must be seen to be understood. In a large portion of our State, shot, shell, and spade, have done the work of the plough and harrow, and a system of "trenching" has been carried on, on a grander scale than was ever contemplated, by the advocates of that means of improving land, or than treated of in agricultural journals. It was Mahan versus Von Thaer and Jethro Tull.

"Like the majority of farmers, I have suffered severely; my stock reduced to nothing, implements worn out or stolen, &c., I must start afresh. The incubus of slavery, thank God, is done away with forever. I feel that there has been a load taken from my back, as well as from others. I superintend the operations of my farm in person; from morning until night I am with my servants, and, I assure you, with more zest and pleasure than ever before. The negroes in this section of the country, (Albemarle county,) have behaved well, all things considered. Poor creatures,-where you can count a dozen now, in a few years, you will not see one; the emigration that we may expect, and which I hope will come soon, and largely, will gradually drive them out of the State.

"My object in addressing you is, first, to ascertain if your valuable paper is still in existence, and second, to get some information in regard to stock, grass seeds, &c. My wants are necessarily numerous, while my means are correspondingly small. My first want is "The American Farmer." I want grass seeds, clover, timothy, and red-top; a thorough-bred bull, and one or two milch cows, Devon or Durham; a few Southdown ewes, and one buck, &c. If I had "The Farmer," of a late issue, I need not trouble you for information as to these things, as I have no doubt I could get it from its pages. Glad will I be, indeed, to hear that "The American Farmer" is still in existence, and thrice glad when I see its familiar face once more."

We add the following from one of the most prominent and estimable citizens of North Carolina, dated 5th of June, at Lexington:

me.

"I am fully in a situation to sympathize with all who have suffered in the last five years; have lost two noble sons, the last of five, except the eldest; one hundred and ten negroes; with the usual depredations of three armies, camped near Have saved, mostly, my horses, mules, and cattle and sheep, and pretty flat down, trying contrabands to raise grains and cotton. The Freedman's Bureau here is a great drawback upon us. The negro does not expect to be ruled by his necessities, to a system of continuous labor, so important to the farmer; he has lost all care for himself, or others, and considers freedom to consist of an exemption of labor, care, or interest in anything. It will take time and experience to cure him of this, and necessity must teach him self-reliance. Enough of this! We are cheerful, poor, and hopeful, and reconciled to our conditiou. If we were let alone, and placed under the ægis of our Federal Constitution, we would most faithfully adhere to its provisions.— I think we are the best Union men."

Cultivation and Manure as Fertili- particles which have withstood the disintegrating

zing Agents.

By Henry Tanner, Professor of Agriculture, Queen's College, Birmingham. [Premium-Medium Gold Medal.]

In order that a clear view may be taken of the relative value of these agencies, it is necessary that the nature of the soil should be examined, and its general properties understood. Soils may be considered as consisting of matter in three

distinct conditions. The first has been termed the active matter of soils, because it exists in a condition capable of being dissolved in water, and consequently available for entering into the eirculation of plants and ministering to their growth. It has therefore received the term active, as being ready for the immediate discharge of its duties; and in this respect it differs very materially from the two other portions of the soil. The second portion has been named the dormant matter of the soil, not that it is dead or useless, but simply in a state of inactivity, being insolluble in water, and therefore unfitted for entering into plants. It might, however, be said that all matter which is not active must be dormant, and this is quite true; but for the convenience of more clearly explaining the component parts of the soil, a further division has been found desirable, and hence we have a third portion, or the grit of the soil. We must, therefore, view the soil not as a homogeneous mass, but as consisting of ingredients congregated into three classes,

as

The active matter of the soil;

The dormant matter of the soil; and
The gritty portion.

By the aid of chemical analysis, each of these may be again subdivided into the several ingredients of which it may be composed. It will at once be evident that an analysis of the entire mass of the soil would give information which must be looked upon with caution, and used with discretion. If an agriculturist wishes to know the composition of any particular soil, it is manifest that he requires, not an examination of the entire soil, but to know the constituents which compose the active ingredients of the soil, for these are the materials which influence the immediate fertility of the soil, and regulate its productive character.

If you examine the three classes already named, you will see that they are simply distinct stages, through which the soil has progressed or is progressing. We have the grit or stony portionthe type of the original rocks, from which all soils are produced-and these are the tractured

action of the atmospheric agencies for a longer period than the other portions. But as under the crumbling influence of the air, moisture, and change of temperature, these become broken up into a smaller and finer state, this gritty matter changes into the dormant matter of our soils, in condition and appearance forming part of the soil, but still insoluble, and therefore valueless as food for vegetation. Such then is the matter of the second class, or the dormant portion-viz, the finely disintegrated portions of the rocks and stones, apparently available for vegetable growth, but still not in a condition to fulfil that expectation. When, however, the dormant matter has been more fully acted upon by the chemical agents in the rain and air, then its character alters, and it no longer remains insoluble, but it readily dissolves in water, and consequently assumes the active condition. Thus, each of these stages is become the pulverised dormant matter, and this a progressive advance,-the grit will ultimately will advance into the active condition. For these reasons we may consider

The active ingredients of the soil as the portion ready for immediate use;

The dormant portion to be rendered useful by cultivation;

The grit which is the store for future years. We have every reason to believe that each of these portions may be composed of matter equally valuable as fertilizing agents, but differing only in one respect-viz, the time of their being available for use. Dr. Daubeny proposed the two appropriate terms of "active" and "dormunt,' for the two conditions already described, and, in a communication to the Royal Agricultural Society, has shown the extent to which this distinction exists in soils. From the analysis given, it appears that about one-half of the alkalies. and one-eighth of the phosphoric acid, were in an active form in the soils examined, and the remainder were dormant. If, therefore, a person had estimated the powers of the soil by its full analysis, he would have anticipated the aid of nearly double the quantity of alkaline matter, and eight times the quantity of phosphoric acid. which really existed in a form available for immediate use.

I shall now proceed to show the manner in which bodies existing in the soil in a dormant condition can be rendered active, and thereby available for the processes of vegetation. I need not do more than remind you that two agencies are very influential in accomplishing this. These are rain water and changes of temperature.— Rain water is not pure water, but as it falls

through the air it dissolves carbonic acid gas existing there It also carries with it some of the atmospheric air, and these gases, being conveyed into the soil, perform very important duties, and contribute to the one which now claims our attention-viz: the conversion of the dormant ingredients of the soil into active condition.

Chemical research has proved that carbonic acid and oxygen co-operate in carrying on a slow and almost imperceptible action upon the ingredients of the soil, thereby changing the insoluble gritty matter of our soils into dormant matter, this again into the more complete and active state, and then they assist in the final appropriation of it by the crop. Thus, the same agents co-operate throughout the entire change, and enable matter to assume these new forms. This action is of a chemical character, but it is powerfully promoted by the mechanical assistance rendered by changes of temperature. The influence of this is to be traced to the fact that bodies when they are hot occupy more space than when when they are cold; hence, by rendering a body hot and cold, you weaken its cohesive power This is especially observable when the change of temperature is great, or when water is present in the soil. All have noticed the effects of frost upon the clods of soil in our fields,—how the frost binds them together with the hardness of a rock, and, when it thaws, crumbles them into a powder. This same action takes place in the particles of the soil, in a greater or less degree, according as they may be more or less exposed to the influence, and this breaking up of the soil exposes fresh portions to the action of the chemical agents spoken of. Thus the combined action of these very simple agents accomplishes, by slow but steady action, very material changes in the soil, rendering its fertilizing ingredients available for use, and unlocking the stores which nature has made for our present and future requirements. This is a very hasty sketch of the materials which we have to deal with; but we must go on to show in what manner the processes of cultivation render the soil more fertile by the development of its own

resources.

The tillage of the land is designed to prepare it for the germination of the seed, and finally, the perfection of the crop. For the accomplishinent of the former, the land has to be brought into a state favorable for the germination of the seed, or, in more general terms, I should say, into that free and loose condition which is known to be so necessary a preparation for sowing. This condition, which is favorable for the first growth, is equally so for the subsequent perfection of the crop. The operations by which this result is

gained consist of plowing, rolling, harrowing, &c., and these are very beneficial in increasing the fertility of the land. In fact, we may view them as so many means for exposing the various parts of the soil to the action of the air, rain, frost and light.

I have already stated that the carbonic acid and oxygen carried into the soil promote the chemical changes which awaken the dormant ingredients of the soil, and bring them into active exercise. In like manner, those parts of the soil which are upon the surface are exposed to these chemical changes, and thus a ceaseless action appears to be going on between them. This change is one by which the mineral matter of the soil is acted upon, but, in addition to this, we have other changes produced--viz, the decay of the organic matter of the soil-for the air and moisture promote changes in its character, and thus render it valuable for promoting vegetable nutrition. It is, however, worthy of note that, whilst the organic matter of the soil is undergoing decay or decomposition, this change favors and promotes the conversion of the mineral matter of the soil from a comparatively useless state into a conditlon suited for the wants of our crops. Any process or operation which stirs the soil, and brings fresh portions under the influence of decomposition, promotes these changes in the organic and the mineral matter of the soil, thereby rendering them available for the nutrition of our crops.

In this manner the stores of the soil are opened up and rendered useful; but I have now to show that tillage operations not only accomplish this desirable result, but they also prepare the soil for abstracting from the atmosphere fertilizing matter. The value of ammonia as a manure is well known, and upon its action the beneficial character of many of our manures is based. It is an expensive manure, but still its judicious use is remunerative in a very high degree. We send many thousands of miles for a large portion of our supplies, yet it is found in the atmosphere floating around us, and is there present in a condition available for the use of vegetation. It is not necessary or desirable for me to refer to the sources from whence it is supplied to the atmosphere; it is enough for us to know the valuable fact that there are abundant stores prepared for the cultivator who is ready to receive a supply therefrom. It is with great pleasure that I refer to a very valuable contribution to our knowledge of the principles which regulate agricultural practice by Professor Way. It will be found in the sixteenth volume of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal. He there proves the presence

of nitric acid and ammonia in the atmosphere; that these bodies are removed from the air in two ways-by the absorptive powers of the soil, and by the rain dissolving them and carrying them into the soil. He very judiciously remarks:"The atmosphere is to the farmer like the sea to the fisherman, and he who spreads his net the widest will catch the most." It is not that all land derives equal advantage from this magazine of wealth, but land, receives and profits just in proportion as the industry and intelligence of man renders it capable of drinking in these fertilizing matters.

Thus, you observe, there are two channels through which the nitric acid and ammonia of the atmosphere become introduced into the soil -the one by the direct absorptive powers of the soil, and the other by the intervention of rain bringing fresh stores within reach of the soil. With regard to the former of them, I may say, that although it does not come properly within the limits of the subject under our notice, still the practical connection is so manifest that I shall not refrain from going into some brief notice of it; but before doing so, I shall notice the agency of rain. This must be viewed as an assistant agent which gathers the accumulations in the atmosphere, and brings them within the influence of the absorptive powers of the soil If, therefore, such rain passes away on the surface without entering into the soil, it is manifest that its services are lost. Hence land which by natural or artificial drainage allows the rain to pass through it, carries into the soil its hidden treasure, which in any other case would pass away to some other recipient, or to the nearest streamlet. The value of its assistance to any agriculturist simply depends upon its services being accepted and turned to some useful account, or else rejected, and its agency wasted.

We may now notice the absorbent powers of our soils. The researches of Professor Way (published in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, volume 15) are of the deepest importance to agriculturists. I will, therefore, briefly bring before you the results of these researches. It was observed that when a solution containing ammonia (or other alkaline salts) was passed through a portion of soil, the soil separated the ammonia from the liquid, preserving it from being again washed out of the soil; and this action was finally traced to the presence of bodies in the soil, known as the double silicates. A silicate is a compound of silica with another body-say for instance silica and soda produce a silicate of soda-but the double silicates are very peculiar, for in these we have silica combining not with one body but

with two bodies: for example, there is the double silicate of soda and alumina; the double silicate of lime and alumina; and a third, which is the double silicate of amonia and alumina. But you will observe that alumina is present in each, and the only difference is that soda is present in the first, lime is present in the second, and ammonia in the third. In most soils we find these double silicates present, but their value varies very considerably. We may now observe the difference in their character and mode of action. The double silicate of soda and the double silicate of lime are each capable of separating ammonia when it is dissolved in water, but the double silicate of lime alone has the power of separating ammonia from the air; the double silicate of lime ie, therefore, decidedly the more valuable salt of the two. The double silicate of soda is readily converted into the double silicate of lime when lime is added to the soil, consequently the addition of lime to the soil renders it competent to absorb more ammonia from the atmostphere, and thereby gives it greater powers of acquiring fertilizing matter than it previously possessed.*

* The more recent researches of others seem to demonstrate that the retention of ammonia by the soil is due not so much to chemical as to physical causes. Most soil can so far retain pure ammonia, but it is only those which contain lime that can first decompose the salts of ammonia and afterwards allow surface attraction betwixt the two to act.-ED.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

Cream Cheese.

An inquiry in the London Field for a recipe for making cream cheese was replied to as follows by three correspondents:

with half a teaspoonful of salt stirred in, and let "We put a quart of cream into a clean jug, it stand a day or two, till thickish. Then we fold an ordinary grass cloth about six or eight times and sprinkle it with salt, then lay it in a sieve about eight inches in diameter. The sides of the cloth should come up well over the sides. Then pour in the cream and sprinkle a little salt on it. Change the cloth as often as it becomes moist, and as the cheese dries press it with the cloth and sieve. In about a week or nine days it will be prime and fit to eat. The air alone suffices to turn the cream into cheese.

"Take about a half pint of cream, tie it up in a piece of thin muslin and suspend it in a cool place After five or six days take it out of the muslin and put it between two plates, with a small weight on the upper one. This will make it a good shape for the table, and also help to ripen the cheese, which will be fit to use in about eight days from the commencement of the making.

"Take a quart of cream, either fresh or sour, mix about a saltspoonful of salt, and the same quantity of sugar. Put it in a cloth with a net outside, hang it up and change the cloth every other day; in ten days it will be fit for use."

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