21S 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



calcareous soil, as it always combines with other sub- 

 stances ; but this does not ia the slightest degree affect 

 the question at issue, for it signifies little what salt of am« 

 monia may be formed, so long as it is formed and con- 

 sumed by the plant. 



In soils, again, rich in animal and vegetable matter, a 

 similar result takes place during the process of decom- 

 position. As in the case of calcareous matter, air and 

 water are necessary to effect this change, during which 

 the oxygen of both produces, with the vegetable matter, 

 carbonic, ulmic, and other acids, while the nitrogen 

 and hydrogen liberated form ammonia. 



If, however, we suppose such a vegetable soil impro- 

 perly drained, so that decomposition takes place in the 

 absence of air, or a sufficient supply of it, then the 

 vegetable matter and oxygen form the carbonic and 

 other acids; but the hydrogen now unites with the car- 

 bon, forming carburetted hydrogen, or the gas of low- 

 lying marshy lands — a gas alike injurious to animal and 

 vegetable life. 



Wet marshy soils of this class are, perhaps, the worst 

 for wheat culture of any, being deficient of ammonia to 

 supply nitrogen for the manufacture of gluten. For the 

 successful growth of this cereal, proper drainage and 

 aeration are essential requisites. A certain degree of 

 moisture is, no doubt, necessary to supply hydrogen ; 

 but in our moist climate, few crops require so little rain 

 as virheat, while none require a larger supply of atmos- 

 phere, beans and peas excepted. 



On sandstone and clay soils, naturally deficient of 

 organic matter, and where the inorganic is less subject 

 to decomposition, on the contrary, wheat seldom yields 

 very abundantly, while the quality ofthe flour is inferior, 

 owing to the small per-centage of gluten which it con- 

 tains. 



This deficiency of crop, and the inferiority of quality, 

 are thus accounted for : In the first place, the inorganic 

 inatter being less subject to the action of oxygen than 

 limestone, the decomposition of air and water is conse- 

 quently also less, so that the supply of naturally manu- 

 factured food, both organic and inorganic, is insufficient 

 to supply the wants of a healthy and luxuriant vegeta- 

 tion. And in the second place, the decomposition of air 

 and water being less, the manufacture of ammonia is 

 also less, and, hence, the formation of gluten. 



In the case of grass crops again, results are similar, 

 the produce of dry calcareous or vegetable soils being 

 better for rearing and fattening stock, than that of others 

 of a different quality not so subject to the decomposing 

 influence of the atmosphere. We might quote many 

 examples from the rich grazing districts of England and 

 Ireland, in proof of this proposition, were it necessary. 

 In low-lying, marshy grass-lands, however, the exam- 

 ple is widely different from that of wheat-land, in more 

 respects than one. In the first, for example, luxuriant 

 crops of an inferior quality are often produced by this 

 class of soils ; and although not equal to straw as food 

 for cattle, they make nevertheless excellent manure. 

 As such we have used immense quantities, both in a 

 green state and dry, for littering stock, and always had 

 fine crops. 



For pasturage they are not well adapted ; the marshy 

 gases arising contaminating the atmosphere, and thus 

 injuring the respiratory functions of stock, or otherwise 

 affecting their health. In corroboration of this, we 

 shall mention two examples : In the first, large tuber- 

 cular swellings break out, principally about the neck 

 and chest of cattle, the malady generally terminating 

 fatally. And not only are they affected thus when 

 grazing, but also when consuming in the straw-yard, 

 alike in summer as winter, the produce of such lands, 

 as turnips, hay, and straw. In the second example, 

 cattle never thrive well ; while they change their colour, 

 Wflatever it may be, to a " dirty dun." 



Some low-lying wet grass-lands, we must observe, 

 are exceptions from the above examples, the produce 

 being rich in quality and abund.int in quantity. This 

 is owing to the water not being stagnant, but rising to 

 the roots of plants by capillary action, and bringing a 

 sufficiency of lime, alkaline, and other salts, in solution, 

 to counteract acidity and supply the necessary quality 

 of food which otherwise would be wanting. The grass, 

 however, owing to the decomposition of air being less 

 (and consequently the produce of naturally-formed am- 

 monia), is generally deficient of nitrogenous element, and 

 therefore is better adapted for yielding butter than 

 cheese or butcher-meat ; but in practice this deficiency 

 is easily supplied by the addition of a little pea or bean- 

 meal and cake. 



Like grass, the turnip delights in a rich, well-drained, 

 calcareous soil, or one full of vegetable matter, with a 

 moist climate, both top and bottom having a liberal 

 supply of air. An abundance of pure air is essential for 

 the growth of this invaluable plant ; for without plenty 

 of room, a well-pulverized soil, and an atmosphere free 

 from deleterious matter, a heavy crop cannot be grown. 

 At the same time more water appears to be assimilated 

 in the process of vegetation than nitrogen from the 

 atmosphere ; thus proving that as the turnip is a large 

 consumer of ammonia — a great decomposer of air and 

 water — nitrogen-gas must be given off from its leaves. 



With regard to climate, it is much more diversified 

 than is generally imagined. In common conversation 

 we talk of the north, south, east, and west, as cardinal 

 distinctions ; but when we come to examine the details 

 of even a single province, let it be situate where it may, 

 how different is the atmospheric circumstances of one 

 farm from that of another ! and how unlike are the 

 results on animal and vegetable life ! 



Such diversities are to be attributed no less to geo- 

 logical than geographical causes. When we enter the 

 field, may it not be said, How little is yet known of the 

 "chemistry of common life!" for here the undivided 

 labours of the farmer are directed to one continued 

 process of decomposition ! as if man had but one grand 

 object in view — viz., to pull down as fast as Nature 

 builds up the animal and vegetable kingdoms ! Nor are 

 results to be measured by his own individual efforts ; for 

 mechanical appliances without number are now being 

 brought to bear upon the soil, exposing it more effec- 

 tually to the decomposing influence of the atmosphere, 

 in order to increase both produce and consumption. 



This decomposition of the soil and its produce must 

 affect the contiguous atmosphere less or more, and hence 

 the quality of the crop. The smell of newly-ploughed 

 land is sensibly felt, for instance, on entering the field, 

 and from different qualities of soil it is equally different. 

 From time immemorial, ploughmen have experienced 

 certain localities more healthy than others ; and the dif- 

 ference is obviously to be attributed to climate, as 

 affected by the volatile matter given off in the process 

 of decomposition. 



We might here enter into a large amount of detail, 

 quoting examples from different geological formations, 

 did our limits permit ; but this blank we shall leave our 

 readers to fill up themselves. If they take up a clod 

 and break it, they may easily detect what the smell or 

 volatile matter given off into the atmosphere is com- 

 posed of. Or if they can analyze it, they may also be 

 able to say what will be liberated in the process of de- 

 composition. All that we shall add is this— Were every 

 farmer in possession of the analyses of the different 

 qualities of soil he cultivates, and volatile matter given 

 off in the process of decomposition, it would prove an 

 interesting source of information to him ; and when a 

 few sovereigns would obtain it, why should it not be had ? 

 The atmosphere, again, is sensibly affected by differ- 

 ent crops, and that differently at different stages of 



