308 



Sugar Beet. — Analysis of Limestone. 



Vol. IV. 



ligation to make them happy, so far as hap- 

 piness can be theirs, and how guilty if we 

 neglect and abuse them ! 



But the domestic animals are not all which 

 motives of policy require should invite the 

 study of the farmer. There are others 

 which, mayhap, partake more of the nature 

 of man, that demand his attention, and 

 which, if left "unnoticed and alone," will 

 enter largely into the blighting of his hopes, 

 and destruction of those things for which he 

 has laboured. The sly, insinuating fox, the 

 wolf, with many others, not excluding those 

 of lesser character, such as squirrels, rats, 

 mice, moles, which build railways with 

 more than human speed through his meadows 

 — weasels, that infest his poultry-yard, &c. 

 &c., — all well enough in their places, but 

 exceedingly apt to get out of their orbit. 

 The invasions of these are to be remedied, 

 and how 1 By making that acquaintance with 

 their instincts which will subserve the end ; 

 not by a long and tedious course of observa- 

 tions — though observations should be as con- 

 stant as the circumstances which invite to 

 them — but by making their history a subject 

 of investigation, as we do arithmetic and 

 every other study, from " the notes and ob- 

 servation " of others, to whom circumstances 

 have afforded more favourable opportunities 

 to become proficients in these matters than 

 we can expect, with our diversity of cares, 

 to possess. W. B. 



Mount Osceola, March 10, 1840. 



Sugar Beet. 



Mr. James Pedder : 



Sir, — I beg you to accept my thanks for 

 the polite manner in which you favoured me 

 with several articles on the cultivation of the 

 beet, especially for the one contained in the 

 Farmers' Cabinet, drawn up by yourself. I 

 am now more satisfied than I was before of 

 the very great importance to the farmer, and 

 the country, of cultivating this almost in- 

 valuable root. I shall use all my influence 

 and exertions in extending its cultivation. I 

 have succeeded in inducing several farmers 

 to enter upon its cultivation the present 

 spring. 



With thanks for your kindness, and best 

 wishes for your success in your noble enter- 

 prise, 



I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 



James Kay. 

 Northumberland, March 31, 1840. 



N. B. I had the pleasure of a personal 

 acquaintance with Mr. Samuel Parkes,* with 

 whose establishment you were connected. 



* Author of the Chemical Catechism. 



For the Farmers' Cabrnet. 

 Analysis of Limestone* 



Mr. Editor.— 



The present extended application of lime 

 to land has given rise to various conflicting 

 observations and opinions, in regard to its 

 more immediate effects, though all admit 

 that great benefits ultimately result from its 

 copious application. Most farmers consider 

 lime, as lime, without entering into any con- 

 sideration or examination of the different in- 

 gredients, or the different proportions of the 

 ingredients which compose that well-known 

 substance. The difference of composition 

 of lime may, and no doubt does, materially 

 affect the result of its application to land, 

 and produces an effect manifestly variant on 

 different crops ; the difference of seasons, as 

 regards heat and moisture; the time of year, 

 and the manner of making the application ; 

 as well as the difference of composition, and 

 state of the soil to which it is applied, all 

 conspire to produce results somewhat differ- 

 ing. The quantity applied, and the state of 

 the lime when the application is made, no 

 doubt affect the result very materially ; and 

 there may be other circumstances, not here 

 enumerated, which might have an influence 

 in producing different opinions in regard to 

 the good expected to be derived from its ap- 

 plication. Every intelligent and observing 

 farmer ought to be attentive to every circum- 

 stance connected with the use of so impor- 

 tant and valuable an agent in agriculture as 

 lime, and carefully to note down in the 

 " Farm book " every circumstancl^ calculated 

 to throw light on this very interesting sub- 

 ject; and by no means leave important ob- 

 servations to treacherous memory, but put 

 them down in "black and white" while the 

 recollection is perfect, and note particularly 

 all the attending circumstances. In order to 

 ascertain the component parts of the lime- 

 stone obtained from several different locali- 

 ties, a few years since, specimens were 

 obtained, which were subjected to a rigid 

 analysis, and this was repeated again and 

 again, by an able chemist, in the most careful 

 and accurate manner, and with results but 

 slightly differing from each other. These 

 results are here detailed, in the hope that 

 they may lead to other and more extensive 

 examinations of the limestones used for 

 agricultural purposes in various sections of 

 our country. 



The first specimen analyzed was from a 

 celebrated quarry in Montgomery county, 

 Pennsylvania, from the range of limestone 

 that has always furnished the lime for the 

 Philadelphia market, and which has sup- 

 plied vast quantities for agricultural purposes 

 to an extensive district of country. It corres- 



