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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Cavendish, Sir A. Macdonalrl, Sir J. V. Shelley, and 

 Messrs. Brandrcth, Brandreth Gibbs, Hamond, Hobbs, 

 Hoskyns, W. Miles, M.P., and H. S, Thompson. 



What will the exhibitors have to say in answer to 

 this invitation ? Has the triennial plan worked weH or 

 not ? We incline to think even better than could have 

 been expected. The question then is — Shall we conti- 

 nue it ? — Return to the old system ? — Or, have no prizes 

 and no trials at all ? The answer would seem to be 

 self-evident; although the small end of the wedge may 

 have been introduced. 



Sorely to tlie disappointment of Oxford, the Country 

 Meeting for 1859 is to be held at Warwick — a very 

 good selection. The Society has no need as yet to run 

 up in a beaten track. There is plenty of fresh ground 

 still to be broken up. In addition to its convenience of 

 situation, Warwick has other attractions to recommend 



it. The frequenter of these meetings must in time see 

 all the best of his own country, quite as a matter of 

 business. There was the run over from Carlisle to 

 Windermere; the drive from Salisbury to Stone'ienge ; 

 the lions of Oxford and Cambridge. And there will be 

 Kenilworth, Stratford, and Guy's famous castle, iu 

 pleasant association, but as agreeable variety with sleek 

 Shorthorns and iron ploughs. 



One word more as to these recent proceedings, and 

 that one to the important matter of Finance. A 

 member who has not paid his subscription must not 

 expect to receive his copy of the Journal. And how 

 would a man get on without the Journal ? With such 

 a threat iu terrorem, Mr. Hudson's time for the next 

 fortnight should be chiefly given to the signing of post- 

 office orders. 



THE NEW MANURE — CLAY FROM THE GAS-WORKS, 



We congratulate the agricultural world on the 

 improved tone pervading the teachings of its scientific 

 instructors. Theories are enunciated cautiously, and 

 modestly guarded with allowances and provisoes ; and 

 research in the laboratory is duly acknowledged as 

 elucidating rather than dictating practical husbandry. 

 Take, for instance, some most valuable papers in the 

 last " Part" of the R. A. S. E. Journal. 



The Rev, Mr. Bowditch has discovered a new source 

 of manure — namely, in the purification of coal-gas by 

 means of clay, which absorbs the ammonia hitherto 

 unarrested by the ordinary process. Carbonate and 

 sulphate of ammonia thus acquired by the aluminous 

 soil used, are doubtless good fertilizers ; but what will 

 be the effect of the sulphocyanide of ammonium and 

 other metals which it also retains in considerable quan- 

 tities? VYell; " sulphocyanic acid is found in the 

 saliva of man and the sheep, and must either be taken 

 in the food as such, or produced in the body by the 

 vital processes. Mustardseed, again, is known to 

 contain the sulpho-cyanide of allyle. Horseradish 

 and AUiaria officinalis contain the same substance. The 

 garlic and common onion contain an oil which differs 

 but little from that of mustard, &c. With these 

 examples of analogous compounds in the animal body 

 and in vegetables, there seemed little risk in applying 

 sulpho-cyanides in quantity." Again: " Many com- 

 pounds of cyanogen, produced by the distillation of 

 coal and retained by the clay, found corresponding 

 ones in the urea and uric acid of urine and guano ; 

 the hydrocyanic acid of bitter almonds, peach kernels, 

 the leaves of the cherry laurel, &c., when distilled, and 

 other compounds of both kingdoms of Nature, which 

 it is beside our object to discuss." Now, what we have 

 to praise is, that instead of directly seizing the con- 

 clusion that the doubtful substance must be a fertilizer 

 because it is found in the animal and vegetable 

 organism, this chemist is content to take these facts 

 as simply toarranting the risk of -a practical trial, and 



tests in the field whether or not the ingredient he 

 believes to exist in onions will injure or improve them 

 when applied as a manure. Accordingly he tries the 

 clay, and greatly augments his crop. " At present," 

 he says, " any attempt at producing analyses to 

 account ior visible effects, and saying thus and thus 

 these substances act — hence, and not elsewhere or other- 

 wise the fertilizing power is obtained — would be, in my 

 opinion, unpardonable presumption. The analyses 

 must be explained by the phenomena : the phenomena 

 must not be tortured to fit the analyses. I have 

 hitherto loithheld the results of much labour on this 

 ground, and propose to learn from, and not to impose 

 interpretations upon, Nature. Chemistry is honoured 

 by becoming Nature's handmaid : it is made con- 

 temptible when put forward as her guide." 



One of the most successful experiments with the 

 new manure — " clay from the gas-works" — was its 

 application to turnips. " This was the very application 

 which theory would indicate. Here was the most sul- 

 phurized of all manures being applied to the most highly 

 sulphurized of our field crops. The question put was, 

 'Will excess of sulphur in manure promote excess of 

 growth in turnips?'. .. . The crop was inspected by 

 many, who all agreed that they had never seen it sur- 

 passed." Yet this was on a piece of poor soil in a 

 garden. Of course, the usual explanation is ready 

 enough : "The ammoniacal salts and other compounds 

 of niti'ogen promoted this luxuriant growth of 

 turnips — the sulphur played but a subordinate part ;" 

 and chemists, unfortunately, lend their authority to 

 this opinion, asserting that soils always contain an 

 abundance of sulphates, and therefore farmers need 

 not trouble themselves to add sulphur. " But is this 

 so ? May not the superior action of dissolved bones, 

 superphosphate, and similar compounds, be due in a 

 great measure to the sulphuric acid they contain, and 

 not simply to soluble phosphate which does not exist in 

 the soil, or'insoluble phosphate ' in a fine state of divi- 



