/PS *-1 1 5 /j?J? C'R n ^c ^ SB 249 .S65 Copyl r" h > REPORT BLACK OAK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, Aslics of the Cotton Stalk, the coiMposition of Cotton Soils, and tlic nature of Rust in Cotton, / rjPLA J^LAWRENCE SMITH, Assayer of the State of South-Carolina; Member of the Annual Association' of American Geologists and Naturalists ; Cor. Member of the American National Institute, of Natural History, &c. ,u CHARLESTON: PRINTED BY MILLER & BROWNE, 1846. G REPORT. The ashes left after the combustion of plants have, until a very late period, been considered merely as accidental ingredients, that varied in quality and quantity even in the same plant growing in the same region ; this incombustible part was therefore looked upon as exerting no influence on the health and vigor of the plant. The researches of modern chemists have proved the error of this supposition, by directing their time and labor and in applying knowledge acquired in the laboratory, to agriculture and rural eco- nomy in general ; and although among the many views promulgated by them, there is some error, the facts that have been brought to light, will always make the agriculturist the chemist's debtor, and should teach him to regard with proper respect what may in his eye appear to be hasty generalization. The chemist has pointed out by analysis, that the ashes of plants of the same description, though growing in different climes, contains the same or similar ingredients. Thus, the pines of Norway and Italy when burnt, left earthy portions that are strikingly similar ; these also being true of the oaks of the same countries, although these latter differed materially from the pines in the character of their ashes. Let it not be understood, that the amount of the different substan- ces present in the ashes of the same plant is so identical, as only to vary by the fraction of a grain ; it is sufficient to bear in mind, that the leading ingredients are the same, and the whole character of the ashes such, as to enable us to infer that they belong to similar plants ; the same is true for different parts of the same plants. Were it deemed necessary, numerous instances might be cited to prove the point in question, but any recent work on agriculture will convince the inquirer of this. As the character of the ashes of plants is so invariable, it must occur to the minds of all, that they play an important part in the economy of plants, and without them plants could not grow; such a supposition the most rigid and careful experiments have proved to be correct. It being also shown that the source from whence the ashes comes is the soil, for plants create nothing, but only appro- priate to themselves elements already existing ; simply arranging them, so as to give I'ise to certain compounds — forming their woody portions from elements existing in the atmosphere and water, and their earthy parts from the soil, which must contain all the elements 4 REPOUT ON THE ASHES OF THE COTTON-STALK, ETC. necessary, as the absence of cvtn one will be the cause of a sickly and impel feet growth. Without dwelHng further on this subject, every one must see the necessity of having all of the required ingredients present in the soil or of supplying them if deficient ; therefore the importance of a knowledge of what is the composition of soils upon which we wish to grow certain plants. 1 do not pretend to say, that with a thorough knowledge of the mere chemical comj'osition of the soil, all the plan- ter's ends are to be answered, or that he will obtain the directions necessary for the improvement of his soils, as there are other pro- perties of the soil besides its composition that influence the growth of the plant ; as for instance its texture, which may be open or com- pact. If a soil contains all the substances a plant requires, and be compact and moist, when an open and dry soil alone is congenial to the plant, it will decay or arrive at imperfect maturity. It is for this reason that the chemist in analyzing soils has done so little for practical agriculture, he has allowed his views to become too narrow- ed and not examined sufficiently into other qualities of the soil. In fact the only way that practical benefit is to be derived, is, by care- ful investigation on their part, and patience on the part of farmers, (who must have, in other ways, seen undeniable benefits arising to them from the chemist's labors.) If this be attended to, in a few years incalculable will be their results to rural economy, and a method of analysis will be brought to bear upon soils that will an- swer all the required ends. The subdivision of the parts of plants into earthy and combusti- ble portions, belongs also to animals — in the higher orders of which, they appear in some degree separated from each other, the earthy parts constituting the mass of the bones. In others however, as the worm, insects, &c., they are intimately blended as in the plant. The prominent ingredients also of the earthy parts of the vegetable and animal kingdoms are the same, which is a natural result, as all animals either directly or indirectly ohtain their nourishment frmrt ^plants. These ingredients are lime, 'phosphoric acid and 2)otash, the two first more especially, and they may be considered joar excellence the earthy ingredients of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, with- out a sufficiency of which, neither one nor the other may expect a healthy growth. So then in studying soils these ingredients should particularly engross our attention as the subject of this report will show. The ashes of a healthy cotton stalk six feet high and an inch, in di- ameter at the largest part, with some leaves and empty pods, consists of- — in 1000 ^?arifs; — Lime, ---..... 303. Potash, ..-....- 243. Phosphoric acid, - . . . - 91. REPORT ON THE COMPOSITTON OF COTTON-SOILS, ETC. O Magnesia, - 5S. Oxide of iron, ------- 4. Sulphuric acid, .-•---- 13. Chlorine, ..-...- 8. Carbonic acid, ------- 270. Sand, .-.-...- 5. The half per cent, of sand arose from what was on external por- tions of the stalk and could not be readily dusted off. The carbonic acid arises from the combustion of the plant and does not previously exist in it. The chlorine that is but a little over a half per cent., the sulphuric acid which is but a little over one per cent., and the oxide of iron which is not one half per cent., may be considered as ingredients of but little if of any importance to the plant. Thereby reducing the really important ingredients to fhosiiihoTic acid, potash, Zmeand magnesia ; this last, however, is always to be looked upon in plants, in the light of lime, and it can be replaced by lime entirely, without prejudice to the plant. The analysis which I have made of the cotton wool and seed (but which do not form a part of the report) as well as the analysis made by others of the same, show that in these a.\so, phosphoric acid, potash and li?ne areWle important constituents. In the analysis of your soils then, these have been particularly looked to, and with satisfactory results, except in the case of potash, which exists in such small quantities in all soils as renders it exceedingly difficult to collect and estimate ; but I had hoped to overcome this difficulty if my duties did not now call me away from home. The soils sent were marked by letters, the surface and the sub- soil from the same spot being designated by the same letter marked 1 and 2 respectively. A. — Somerton near Somerset Creek, in 1000 j^c-'n'ts- 1 2 Sand, 760 SOO Clay, - 140 155 Moisture, 30 25 Vegetable matter, 70 20 The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic acid furnished : — 1 2 Alumina, 3.400 3,000 Oxide of iron, 2.700 2.500 Lime, 1.200 1.300 UEPORT ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON-SOILS, ETC. Phosphoric acid, 2.000 2.300 Chlorine, - - . . . trace. trace. Potash and soda, .... trace. trace. Magnesia, 0.300 0.200 B. — Ghapcl Hill, (Frierson's,) in 1000 parts. 1 2 Sand, 800 850 Clay, 170 132 Moisture, 10 10 Vegetable matter, 20 8 The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished : — 1 2 Alumina, - - - 1.200 1.150 Oxide of iron, - . . . - 1.100 1.200 Lime, - 1.000 0.600 Phosphoric acid, - 0.160 0.175 Chlorine, - . . . 0.060 0.040 Potash and soda, (chiefly soda) - 0.080 0.060 C. — Chapel Hill, (Frierson's) in 1000 parts. 1 Sand, 680 700 Clay, 270 252 Moisture, 20 18 Organic matter, ..... 3o 30 The portion of 1000 grains of the soil soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished : — .tr- 1 2 Alumina, 1.300 1.320 Oxide of iron, - - - - - 1.500 1.400 Lime, ...... 0.410 0.510 Chlorine, 0.369 0.250 Potash and soda, .... 0.520 0.420 D. — Ophir, in 1000 parts. 1 Land, 800 850 Clay, 166 122 Moisture, 12 13 Vegetable matter, 22 15 ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. ' The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished : — Alumina, -200 2.800 Oxide of iron, . . , • • • 1-544 1-600 Phosphoric acid, . J • ■ 0.294 0.367 Chlorine .... 0.120 0.573 Potash akd soda, (chiefly potash,) . 0.030 0.450 Lime. 1-520 3.320 E. — Pineopolis, (pine barren) in IQ^d parts. Sand, Clay, . Moisture, . Vegetable matter, . 900 62 8 30 The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished : — Ai • . . 0.637 Alumina, „ _ Oxide of iron, 0.o6S Lime, ••••■***.. /-Ill • . . • trace. Chlorine, Potash and soda, "^*^®- F —Cedar Spring near Hepworth, in 1000 parts. 1 2 ^ . . . 860 905 ^f^' . • • • • . . 55 50 Vt -^1 ■ ' * ' . . 25 25 Moisture, . . • • • fio 20 Vegetable matter, . . . • • ou The portion of 1000 grains of the soil, soluble in diluted muriatic acid, furnished : — 12 „ . . . 2.600 2.800 ^^™^^;. . 0.350 0.360 Oxide of iron, ,, . • • ^^^^ ^^^^^ ij^^'t, ' .\A ' ' ' . 0.050 0.060 Phosphoric acid, . . • • ^^^^ ^^g^ Vo^.i soda', (chiefly sida,) * . • 0-200 0.150 Sulphuric acid, , ■ • ^'^^q ^^^^^ Magnesia, . ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. G. — Cedar Spring, western extremity, in 1000 farts. 1 Sand, ...... 700 Clay, ...... 253 Moisture, ..... 22 Vegetable raattex*, . . . . .25 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — Alumina, ...... 0.630 Oxide of iron, ..... 0.900 Lime, ..... 1.100 Phosphoric acid, .... 0.025 Chlorine, ..... 0.320 Potash and soda, .... 0.400 H. — Somerton, (Biggin Swamp,) in 1000 parts. 1 2 Sand, .... 810 870 Clay, .... . 102 95 Moisture, 28 20 Vegetable matter, . , 60 15 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — 1 2 Alumina, .... 6.200 5.500 Oxide of iron, . . 2.300 2.100 Lime, . i . . 0.710 0.850 Phosphoric acid, . 1.150 1.210 Chlorine, .... 0.230 0.120 Potash and soda, . 0.520 0.600 Sulphuric acid, 0.510 O.300 Magnesia, . 0.250 0.100 I. — Hog'Sioamp, ( Negrohead,) in 1000 parts 1 Sand, .... , 760 Clay, .... , 200 Moisture, Veeetable, • 10 30 The part of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, furnished Alumina, ..... 2.250 Oxide of iron, ..... 3.000 Lime, . . . . . 10.400 ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. ^ Phosphoric acid, . . . • • ^.220 Chlorine, . . • • • 0.154 Potash and soda, (chiefly soda,) . . • 0-080 this soil effervesced when the acid was poured upon it, J —Hog-swamp, ( W. /. Dennis' clay land,) in 1000 parts, 1 2 Sand .... 730 775 «^ • ■ • • • To « Moisture, .... 2 tn Vegetable matter, . • . 80 40 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid fur- nished : — 1 <* Alumina, .... 5.200 4.800 Oxide of iron. . . • • §.530 8.200 Lime . . . 1-600 0.850 Phosphoric acid, . • • O.OSO 0.085 ChloJine, .... 0.044 0.025 Potash and soda, (chiefly soda,) . 0.020 0.010 l^.—Mrs. Prioleau, ( Ward's,) in 1000 parts. 1 2 Sand, . - ■ ■ ' ^ III Clay, 130 125 Moisture ^n S Vegetable matter, . . • . 70 oO The portion of 1000 grains, soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — 1 2 Alumina 5.400 4.500 Oxide of iron 4.500 4.020 Lime . . • • 4.620 3.210 Phosphoric acid, . . • 0.260 0.280 L.— il. J. Harvey's, (Dubois,) m lOm parts. 1 2 Sand ... 825 862 f^y . ' . • • • \^o 120 Moisture. .... f. .1 Vegetable matter, . . - . -iO lu 2 2.300 1.800 1.500 1.650 0.450 0.620 0.120 0.200 trace. trace. 0.130 0.150 10 ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON SOILS. The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — Alumina, .... Oxide of iron, . Lime, .... Phosphoric acid, Potash and soda, . Magnesia, M.—H. HarveifSf Fair forest Swamp, in 1000 parts. 1 2 Sand, ..... 820 875 Clay, . . . . 100 90 Moisture, .... 30 20 Vegetable matter, . . . 50 15 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — 1 2 Alumina, .... 1.100 1.500 Oxide of iron, .... 0.950 0.650 Lime, . . . . 420 0.610 Phosphoric acid, . . . 0.060 0.080 Potash, . . . . trace. trace. N. — Eutaw, (Jas. Gaillard,) marled land, in 1000 parts. Sand, ...... 800 Clay, ...... 110 Moisture, ..... 32 Vegetable matter, . . . .58 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — Alumina, , . . . ; 2.400 Oxide of iron, ..... 1.680 Lime, ..... 3.200 Phosphoric acid, . . - . 0.200 Potash, ..... trace, effervesced slightly. O. — Eutaw, (Jas, Gaillard,) unmarled, in lOOOparts. 1 Sand, ...... 850 Clay, .. = ... 100 Moisture, . . .25 Vegetable matter, ..... 25 ON THE COMPOSITION OF COTTON SOILS. 11 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : 1 Alumina, ..... 1.800 Oxide of iron, ..... 1,420 Lime, ..... 0.550 Phosphoric acid, .... 0.050 Chlorine, ..... trace. Soda and potash, .... trace. Sulphuric acid, .... trace. Y.— Wahvorth, (T. W. PorcherJ in 1000 parts. 1 Sand, ...... 720 Clay, ...... 180 Moisture, ..... 40 Vegetable matter, ..... 60 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : Alumina, ..... 3.200 Oxide of iron, ..... 0.900 Lime, ..... 0.350 Phosphoric acid, .... 0.075 Potash, ..... R. — Mexico, fS. Porc/terJ in 1000 parts. Sand, ...... 705 Clay, . . . • . .250 Moisture, . . . . . 20 Vegetable matter, . . . . .25 The portion of 1000 grains soluble in warm muriatic acid, fur- nished : — 1 Alumina, . ... . . 3.300 Oxide of iron. ..... 2.500 Lime, ..... L260 Phosphoric acid, .... 0.030 Chlorine, . . ; . . trace. Potash and soda, ..... trace. Sulphuric acid, .... trace. 12 ON THE COMPOSITION OP COTTON SOILS. The following is a tabular view of the composition of the soils. In 1000 parts. Soil. A 1 A2 B ] B2 C 1 C 2 I) I D2 R F 1 F2 (; H I II 2 1 J 1 J 2 K 1 K2 L 1 L 2 M i M2 N 1 O P R Portion o/lOOO parts soluble in warm muriatic acid. riatic .2 c J" ^ "o u 0.30 0.20 0.10 05 25 O.IO 0.38 0.13 0.15 From ihese analysis I slioultl certainly conclude that A and II were the best soils, on account of the larger propoition of ])hospho- licacid contained in them. Of these two, 1 am disposed to think that H will be found the better, fiom it containing more potash, chlorine, and sulphuric acid than A, although it has not quite as mucli phosphoric acid ; a little dressing of leeched ashes placed imniediately around the plant, will very probably improve the growth of the cotton. The next best, according to these analysis, would appear to be B. D. I. K. L. N.. But B. D. and K are said to rust cotton, the cause of which I will allude to in another part of this report, at least so far as 1 have been able to make it out. All the others I should consider as being able to grow cotton fairly, pxcept E, which would appear to be unfitted for almost any plant. It is not the province of this report, to enter upon the various methods (jf improving these cotton soils, but it may not be out of place, to state one thing that occurs to my mind, bearing upon the yvants of the plant, and character of the soils. It is, to let the la- CAUSE OF RUST IN COTTON. 13 borer when he thins out for the last time, carry with him a bag containing a mixture of ground bones, (about as fine as river sand) mixed with an equal quantity of leeched ashes, and at the root of every stalk he leaves standing, throw a good handful immediately around it. In fact there is little doubt but that it will be found far more beneficial as a manure than cotton seed, and requiring a much less quantity. The Ashley river marls and all such marls as contain from 4 to 10 per cent, of phosphate of lime, will answer well to put on the top of the ridges after the planting of the seed. In a letter received from Mr. F. A. Porcher, accompanying the soils, he stated, that F and G are representations of soils not very rich, but very safe ; and reference to my analysis will bear this out. I should have stated, although I have no mention made of what sort of soil C is found to be, that I consider it a very inferior one. If any general conclusion can be arrived at from the analysis, it is, that cotton soils — every thing else being alike — is valuable according to the amount qfphospJwric acid jjresent. The last point to be considered in this report is that oi rust in cotton, and here every thing is to be learnt. Rust, as a term in ag- riculture, is in about the same position as that of dispepsia in medi- cine. It is a name given to a variety of diseases which have some resemblance to each other, but are widely different as to their causes. The rust properly speaking, and which so commonly attacks wheat, ia certainly a kind of parasitic plant of the class of fungi, that grows on the stalk, leaves, &c., of the wheat and other grain, under certain disadvantageous circumstances of weather and season. The seeds of this parasite are wafted by the breeze to the spot where it ger- minates ; it takes root into the body of the stalk and interrupts the maturation of the seed. This rust is somewhat the color of iron rust, from which it derives its name ; it readily detatches itself, and when burnt, leaves a little ashes. Now 1 am not aware that rust of this description has ever been known to infect cotton, that which attacks cotton shows no fungus growth, but under the effects of it, the plant becomes blighted, changes in color and dies. To arrive at the true cause of the rust of cotton, the planter will have, by very close examination, to distinguish between the different kinds (if there be any difference) and mark well the influences that are operating upon the plant at the time they occur. When he goes as far as he can in this, let him call to his aid the chemist, give him the rusted cotton stalk arid a healthn cotton, stalk of precisely the same size and growth, as well as a portion of the soil taken up at the lime the effects are noted. In acting in this way, the planter may hope to find out the causes of this blight, and they will of course point out the remedy, which if practicable, will meet all the wishes and I'epay the labor of the planter. It is not a rigorous method of comparison, to examine the ashes of healthy and diseased plants, unless they are of the same stage of growth, for ashes of plants differ with their age. Wheat-straw, just before the grain begins to form, contain some of 14 CAUSE OF RUST IN COTTON. those ingredients that afterwards abandon to a great degree the straw and pass into the grain, making a decided difference between the ashes of young and matured wheat straw. My examination into the cause of the rust is very imperfect, not having been furnished, as you must now see, with the proper data to go upon in my investigation ; but what has been done shall be made known to your body. I have no doubt that the peculiarity of sea- sons may produce these diseases as well as animalculfe developed in the soil ; but my firm belief is, that noxious substances in the soil are frequently the causes, and they are more commonly some of the preparations of iron — the protoxide of iron especially. This pro- toxide was found by me in much larger quantities in D and K, particularly in K, than any of the other soils, in fact some of them contained none of it. I can pronounce with but little confidence upon any thing brought to light by the analysis of the cotton stalks, for the healthy and rust- ed stalks placed in my hands, differed too much in size and age, to furnish much information from the comparative composition of their ashes. But I did all that it was possible to do under the circum- stances. There was decided difference in the amount of ox«Ze o/" iron in the two ashes : in the ashes of the full grown healthy plant, it was only one half per cent., while in the ashes of the one diseased, it was two and a quarter per cent. The phosphoric acid of the two did not differ materially, the healthy having nine, and the diseased eight percent. The proportion of lime was different, the diseased forty, and the healthy thirty per cent. The proportion of potash in the diseased was fifteen per cent., while that of the healthy stalk was twenty-four. The protoxide of iron alluded to above, is by exposure to the at- mosphere, converted into the peroxide, a form from which no inju- rious effect may be expected, except when in very great excess ; so I would suggest that in planting these lands, which rust cotton, as D and K, to disturb the surface as little as possible. This I know to answer in the case of certain soils that were examined for Dr. Townsend, of John's Island. I am sorry that my unavoidable absence from America, will render it impossible to prosecute these labors, commenced under the auspices of your Society, and I regret it the more since much time has been consumed in fixing upon methods best suited for carrying on these investigations. I hope, however, that the active part taken by you in inquring into the true nature of the circumstances govern- ing the growth of cotton, will be crowned with the success it deserves, and that the report may aid in pointing out the right course to be pursued. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS III 000 931 701 6 565 Hollinger Corp. pH8.5