82 THE CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL 



much more rapid and a few weeks will suffice to set up a decora- 

 position, when the heap may be overhauled, and the compost will 

 be ready in a few weeks more. 



6th. Instead of salt, muriate of potash may be advantageously 

 used. It will probably act as well in the compost and will also 

 supply indispensable potash to the crops. 



The favorable effect of "salt and lime mixture" is explained in 

 my Report on '' Peat and Its Uses as Fertilizer and Fuel," page 

 73, as follows : 



" When quick-lime is slaked with a brine of common salt 

 (chloride of sodium), there are formed by double decomposition, 

 small portions of caustic soda and chloride of calcium, which dis- 

 solve in the liquid. If the solution stand awhile, carbonic acid is 

 absorbed from the air, forming carbonate of soda ; but carbonate 

 of soda and chloride of calcium instantly exchange their ingredi- 

 ents, forming insoluble carbonate of lime and reproducing com- 

 mon salt. When the fresh mixture of quick-lime and salt is 

 incorporated with any porous body, as soil or peat, then, as 

 Graham has shown, unequal diffusion of the caustic soda and 

 chloi'ide of calcium occurs from the point where they are formed, 

 through the moist porous mass, and the result is, that the small 

 portion of caustic soda which diffuses most rapidly, or the car- 

 bonate of soda, formed by its speedy union with carbonic acid, is 

 removed from contact with the chloride of calcium. 



Soda and carbonate of soda are more soluble in water and more 

 strongly alkaline than lime. They, therefore, act on peat more 

 energetically than the latter. It is on account of the formation of 

 soda and carbonate of soda from the lime and salt mixtui-e, that 

 this mixture exerts a more powerful decomposing action than 

 lime alone. Where salt is cheap and wood ashes scarce, the 

 mixture may be applied accordingly to advantage. Of its useful- 

 ness we have the testimony of practical men." 



Case of Poisoning avith Pakis Green, 



"East Hartford, Sept. 25, 1883. 

 Prof. S. W. Johnson : 



Dear Sir: — Here inclosed I send you a portion of the bowel 

 of a horse for analysis, which I have very strong suspicion was 

 poisoned. Dr. Cressy made the post-mortem examination, and is 

 of that opinion also. An early reply will gi-eatly oblige 



Yours very truly, 



Jno. E. Lathrop." 



