No, 85.] 133 



h\e physiologlstj who knows the analysis of sheep manure, will set 

 his seal. 



Still, it is very far from the intention of the writer, to dispute the su- 

 perior valueof clover as the most economical manuring crop. Accord- 

 ing to Boussingault, a ton of green clover affords seventeen pounds of 

 ammonia, while a ton of herds grass, gives but five pounds ; when we 

 add to this the value of the extra quantity of large roots left by the 

 clover in the soil, as compared with the roots of other plants, the 

 superior value of this grass, as a manure, needs no farther comment. 

 This volatile alkali ammonia, is said to be as efficient in converting 

 the humus in the soil, into soluble food for plants, as the fixed alka- 

 lies, potash and soda ; all of which perform a twofold office in the 

 organism of all vegetable structure. 



ALBANY AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS. 



Extracts from the report of the discussions at the first Agricultural 

 Meeting, held on March 4, 1844 : 



Mr. Humphrey, Mayor of Albany, opened the discussion. He 

 said he had a farm a few miles from the city — the soil sandy. A year 

 ago last spring, he carried out 250 bushels of horn shavings. He 

 planted about three acres to corn, and put a very small quantity, 

 only what could be held between the thumb and finger, in each hill, 

 and used no other manure. The corn grew surprisingly, so much so 

 that it attracted the attention of the Shakers as they passed by it ; 

 and they wanted him to have the crop particularly measured at har- 

 vesting. He did so, and found there was 126 bushels of ears, or 63 

 bushels of shelled corn to the acre. The corn was the small eight 

 rowed kind ; was all sound and very heavy. He thought the land 

 would not have produced over 15 bushels per acre, if he had not 

 used the horn shavings, or other manure. He also used the horn 

 shavings for potatoes, and they did remarkably well. 



Mr. Bement said he had used horn shavings. He usually made 

 them into compost, with anthracite coal ashes, muck, &c. He had 

 applied this mixture to corn, potatoes and turneps, and found it ex- 

 cellent. He had used hog's bristles ; got about 60 bushels, one year, 

 and used them with potatoes, putting a handful in the hill, at the 

 time of planting. The season was a moist one. Where the bristles 

 were put, the yield was double what it was in other parts of the field, 

 where he used the common quantity of stable or yard manure, though 

 the soil was quite similar. He had also used the refuse of a glue 

 factory, (hair, bits of skin, &c.,) which is a powerful manure. He 

 had used fish, also. A few years ago, he got six barrels of damaged 

 fish, which he used as manure. He facetiously remarked, that he 

 was fond of fish and potatoes, and he thought he would try the effect 

 of mixing them together at planting time. He therefore put half a 

 fish to a hill, on one-half the lot, and on the other half, he put ma- 



