PEAT AS AN ABSORBENT AND AS A FERTILIZER. 101 



is furnished in tlie solids, the atmosphere will suppl}' the hydrogen 

 needed to form the ammonia. Hence, the amount of nitrogen it 

 can furnish, mostlj' determines the value of a manure. Prof. John- 

 ston is of the opinion that ammonia is supplied to plants by the 

 natural decaj' of animal and vegetable substances ; and that nitric 

 acid is formed parti}' b}- the oxidation of dead organic matter, and 

 partly by the union of oxygen and nitrogen through the electricity 

 in the air. 



Nitrogen, however, is the great operator and food provider of 

 plants. The ammonia produced by it and its power to form 

 nitrates are invaluable. Nitrates in which the nitrogen exists as an 

 acid are great workers in the decomposition and decay of organic 

 matter, either in the compost heap or in the soil. But salts alone, 

 without the addition of nitrogenous matter, will not long avail. 

 Neither will carbonic acid or ammonia alone be sufficient. Organic 

 matter is essential to success. Extremes of all kinds are to be 

 avoided, and every factor must work without violence, in due tivie, 

 within proper limits, and with plenty of liquid. A good manure is 

 that which will furnish the necessary ammonia when wanted, or 

 which, by its combinations, can be easity converted into ammonia. 

 The humus of peat is continually decaying, and is thus continually 

 forming carbonic acid ; it is also taking up nitrogen from the air 

 and converting it into nitric acid and ammonia. It gives warmth 

 and porosity to the soil, and supplies it with soluble materials ; 

 while the insoluble earths are consumed b}' the acids, and thereby 

 adapted to vegetation. Nitrates, and other salts (without animal 

 manures), must not be applied repeatedl}' to the same land. In the 

 absence of alkalies, no vegetable fibrine or vegetable caseiue can be 

 formed. Alkalies, with animal manures, have the power to form 

 nitrates and become very effective. Peat has the power to form 

 alkalies, and this power is of great service. 



Dr. Dana says^ that one cord of fresh peat will neutralize one 

 hundred pounds of soda-ash ; and that one cord of barn^'ard 

 manure will decompose from three to six cords of peat. One dead 

 horse, well covered with peat, will convert fifteen or twenty tons of 

 peat into a manure equal to the average from the stable ; for it will 

 separate nearl}' all its nitrogen from the other constituents, and 

 hold it in the heap. He thinks, also, that the salts contained in 

 one cord of peat are equal to the droppings of a cow for three 

 months, and, bj' analysis, thej' are found to have the same chemi- 



