T!1E FARMER'S MONTHLY VJSITOR. 



135 



ters, required for peculiar veajctation, and the na- 

 ture and quantity of sucii matter required, is indi- 

 cated by a ciiemical analysis of the soil. Knortnous 

 quantities of valuable materials in manures, are 

 lost by a want of chemical art in preserving them, 

 and still more is wasted by improper application. 

 The causes which effect these results, are well 

 known to chemists and geologists, and by special 

 examinations, the knowledge is apjjlied to particu- 

 lar cases with skill, and with certainty in the re- 

 sult ; whereas vast aniouTits of bolli time and mon- 

 ey are lavished in idle experiments, by those who 

 are unacquainted with the laws of nature. 



It is to correct these errors in agriculture, that 

 science, "the handmaid of the arts," comes to our 

 aid, and by learning and following her laws, we 

 soon come to a more perfect knowledge of the sub- 

 ject, and with the lever which she puts in our 

 hands, ovcrtiirovvall obstacles. Why is it that the 

 noble art of agriculture, holds so low a rank in the 

 opinion of men, if it be not that reason has left the 

 field and given place to enipyricism -' If it is ever to 

 be restored to its pristine rani:, and a new Eden is 

 to bloom, with its fruitful fields, it must be by bring- 

 ing the Gon-UKE attribute of man to the task of 

 renovation. I have always been startled with the 

 gratuitous assumption tiiat knowledge and reason 

 were not to be the rules of agricultural labor. — 

 That any one knows enough to be a farmer, and 

 that ihi; concf nirated experif.nc-i uf the world tous 

 not to heput in competition joith thr- narroto circle of 

 uidividual experience I Is it indeed so with any 

 other science or art ^ or should we not coriceive it 

 to be arrant folly for any one to pretend to learn a- 

 ny other business, without availing himself of tiie 

 know- ledge of others ? I know that intelligent men 

 make no sucli gratuitous assumptions; but still 

 there may be many, who are not aware ot the ap- 

 plication of certain sciences which I mention, to 

 the improvement of this most important of arts, or 

 they may have bat a partial glimpse into the arcana 

 of science. Others may have formed an opinion, 

 that since science is confessedly imperfect, it can- 

 not meet the exigencies of the case, but that inno- 

 vations upon ancient customs are fraught with dan- 

 ger. To such we may reply, that enough is al- 

 ready known to render the art great service, and 

 that knowledge is marching on with such rapid 

 strides, that we should hasten in our movements, 

 lest all hope of overtaking her should be lost. 



I knew a gentleman once, who stated that he 

 was waiting for the science of ciiemistry to come 

 to a stop, before he engaged in the stud}^. It was 

 then comparatively easy to actiuire tlie mass of in- 

 formation requisite for the comprehension of that 

 Bcience. Cut now, look back to the accumulated 

 knowledge on this subject, which has loaded our 

 shelves with ponderous volumes. Is there now a- 

 ny better opportunity of overcoming the ditficulty:* 

 So it will siiortly be with scientific agriculture. — 

 But comparatively few are the records now — but 

 with the new impulse it has received, in a few 

 years it will cause "meek eyed patience to fold her 

 arms in despair," when contemplating the mass of 

 materials that will be collected tor our instruction. 

 *'Little by little the bird makes its nest;" and so 

 must we gradually collect the materials of knowl- 

 edge. Let the young tarmer, therefore, be on the 

 alert, and not let the rest of the world get the start 

 of him in his art. Agricultural colleges are re- 

 quirea throughout our country, and the time is not 

 far distant when we shall see them in full oper- 

 ation.- Analytical chemistry and geology will be 

 among the essential principles of a farmer's edu- 

 cation. Botanical knowledge will teach the pecu- 

 liaralities of plants, and their adaptation to peculiar 

 Boila; and chemistry will teach us so to modify our 

 Boils as to produce such results as are required. \n 

 the mean time, a few professional men must take 

 the burtlien upon their shoulders, and aid the far- 

 mer in his first steps in science. Mutual aid and 

 food fellowship, will make the burthen light, and 

 oth parties will profit by the association. The 

 farmer, attaclied to one spot, has great advantages 

 in obtaining facts, which more fully illustrate the 

 knowledge of that particular district. The facts 

 so obtained, are to be collated and duly explained, 

 so as to become capable of forming general rules or 

 principles, for the guidance of others. Soils re- 

 niarka'.>le for peculiar vegetation, luxuriant or bar- 

 ren, lorm subjects of particular interest, capable of 

 explcirn.ition lay chemical analysis. The present 

 state and future condition of a sod, can in a certain 

 degree be ascertained by a knowledge of their ge- 

 ological origin, and the nature of the chemical re- 

 actions wliich will take place ill it. Advantage 

 may sometimes be taken of defects in soils, to ren- 

 der them the most powerfully beneficial. Thus, 

 in the town of Saco, there is an intervale plain, be- 

 longing to Mr. 1. Jordan, having several remarka- 



ble substances in it, which nothing but a knowl- 

 edge of geology and chemistry could explain or 

 improve. There is a kind of clay marl, filled with 

 minute and almost invisible particles of pyrites or 

 bi-sulphuret of iron, composed of 54 parts sulphur 

 and <J{j of iron. The marl also contains three per 

 cent, of carbonate of lime, and the remainder is 

 clay. When this substance is first duir up, it is 

 without any saline taste, and nearly inert; but up- 

 on exposure to t!ie air, it crumbles, and after a 

 while, becomes charged with copperas or sulphate 

 of iron, which is formed by the oxidation of the 



sulphur and the iron, by atmospheric action. 



While in its first stages, it acts as a powerful fer- 

 tilizer, fi)r the sulphuric acid is taken from the iron 

 and combines with the lime, forming gypsum or 

 snipliate of lime, while the oxide of iron is depos- 

 ited. After a while, the copperas or sulphate of 

 iron, constantly forming, gains the ascendency, 

 and then has powerful corrosive properties, nine or 

 ten per cent, of sulphuric acid being produced ; 

 and having no lime with which to coTubine, it at- 

 tacks the r.ints of plants and kills thein. Thus, as 

 Mr. Jordan happily expressed himself, ■ "it first 

 makes the corn grow, and then eats off its roots 

 and kills it." Certain other plants of the gramiao', 

 are capable of v/ithstanding this substance, if not 

 in great excess; and hence herds grass, rye and 

 wheat, are not so likely to be destroyed by it, since 

 they are armed with a coat of mail composed of 

 silex, which envelopes their whole surface; but all 

 herbaceous or tender plants are cut off by it 



Here then we have a defect to remedy, and to 

 turn to our account, and it is an extremely simple 

 case, for we have only to add a sufficiency of lime 

 to the copperas marl to render it one of the most 

 valuable and powerful fertilizers. Thus a compost 

 heap affords us an accessible remedy, and the ene- 

 my is soon tamed and made subservient to our will. 

 The origin of this pyritiferous clay is at once ex- 

 plained by geology, which teaches us that it is com- 

 posed of the fine particles of pyritiferous slate 

 rocks, that have been deposited by 'water. So also 

 the occurrence of nodules of shot and nut iron ore 

 in it, and the mineral waters whicli flow from the 

 meadows charged with sulphate of lime, explain 

 themselves by the reaction of carbonate of lime 

 upon sulphate of iron, an exchange of elements 

 taking place in accordance with the well known 

 la,W3 of chemical affinity. 



Peat also occurs abundantly in the same mead- 

 ow, and by a little chemical skill may be converted 

 iitto an excellent manure by means of a mixture of 

 lime and a little barn yard manure or any animal 

 matter. Thus tliree or four cords of the peat mix- 

 ed witli one cord of animal manure, and treated 

 with a cask or two of slaked lime will make a com- 

 post superior in value to five cord.i of the best sta- 

 ble manure alone. They ought to be placed in al- 

 ternate layers, tlius : 



ANIMAL MANURE, 



PEAT, 



The whole forming a regular compost heap. The 

 chemical reactions which follow are chiefly thus : 



The lime extricates a large quantity of gazeous 

 ammonia from the animal matter, which is absorb- 

 ed by and enters into combination with the peat, 

 and IS thus retained ready for use at the state of 

 ulmate or geat ammonia — (a most powerful ma- 

 nure) — and the lime becomes completely carbonat- 

 ed or air slaked by the carbonic acid given out dur- 

 ing fermentation, and in this state is a proper and 

 permanent ameliorator of the soil. The peat is con- 

 verted into a powder and soluble pulp, and becomes 

 more suitable for the nutriment of plants. While 

 if lime and animal matter was used in excess we 

 shall have also a considerable quantity of carbonate 

 of ammonia, in the peat, a well known and power- 

 ful saline manure. 



In case the soil is sandy, the clay marls, neu- 

 tralized with lime, is the most proper amendment 

 for it, and such is generally the condition of the fields 

 in Saco, so that by a proper use of this marl the 

 happiest effects rnay be realized by the farmers in 

 that town. 



I could quote other instances of the kind, but the 

 above fully iflustrates my meaning, and will show 

 how favorable an influence scientific knowledge 

 would exert in agriculture, were it more generally 

 appreciated. 



The principles which I have laid down, have 

 been adopted by sevtn'al distinguished farmers of 

 Massachusetts, and their experience most fully cor- 

 roborates the truth of the theory inculcated. 



For the Fr.iiiiei'a .Monllily Visitor. 



liaising Cloru in New York. 



Kcnnchunii, Maine, Aug. SI, lS3f). 

 lion. Isaac \i\\A.—Dear sir.-— Although not a 

 practical fanner, I have ever felt a deep iriterest in 

 the science of agriculture, considering it the no- 

 blest, and most profitable occupation of man. Two 

 years ago I spent a season in Onondaga County, 

 New York, decidedly the best agricultural district 

 in the State. Being a valetudinarian, I was induc- 

 ed to try the eftect of out-door manual labor upon 

 my health; and for that purpose boarded with a 

 respectable practical and I may add scientific far- 

 mer ; and with tiie design to learn something of 

 farming from actual observation and experience, 

 let niy.self to work with him on his farm whenever 

 he could make my services of any benefit. 1 took 

 particular notice of his method of conductintr bis 

 farming operations, and particularly in the cultiva- 

 tion of corn. Believing that the farmers of West- 

 ern New York have learned the art of economising 

 labor to better advantage than most of our Maine 

 and New Hampshire farmers, I have ventured to 

 transcribe from the dairy which I then kept, the 

 system of management pursued there in the pre- 

 paration.of the soil. 



In the first place the land (if green sward, and 

 in many instances if not; \s broken up as soon as 

 the spring's work is over, in the interval between 

 plarilmg and hoeing — and in doing this I think they 

 manage much better than we do: I mean in regard 

 to labor and expedition — using horses altogether ; 

 a span of horses and one man to a plough doing 

 tlie work with perfect ease. Every farmer keeps 

 his span of sleek, well conditioned and elegant 

 horses, handsomely matched, such as would appear 

 second to none either harnessed in the plough or 

 the barouche. They are so trained as to under- 

 stand the business completely. When attached to 

 the plough the man throws the reins, or lines, as 

 they are there called, over his right shoulder, pas- 

 sing round his body, and under his left. He thus 

 guides his plough and burses without the aid of a 

 boy ; and in this way he can perforinmore labor in 

 one day than a yoke of oxen, a .nan and boy can in 

 three. The ground thus ploughed, which they 

 call "summer fallowing" remains until spring when 

 the turf has become mellow. It is then cross- 

 ploughed and harrowed, and is ready for the seed. 

 A chain is then drawn across the .fisld in parallel 

 lines about three and a half feet assunder, in order 

 to mark ott" the rows. The planter then with his 

 corn in a small bag tied on before him, similar to 

 the nail pockets wfiich we frequently see made use 

 of b}' carpenters, drops and covers his corn, no hol- 

 ing being necessary, the mark of the chain being 

 siilficient; and with a single stroke and pat of the 

 hoe completes the work. As soon as the corn is 

 well up, say three or f'our inches in height, the op- 

 eration of weeding commences. This is perform, 

 ed by simply running the cultivator along the 

 rows, and using the hoe very slightly, being care- 

 ful not to "hill it" any. This being completed, he 

 plasters it, (using the Gypsum from the extensive 

 quarries found in that county in the towns ofMar- 

 ceilus and Manlius— rather darker, and I should 

 tiiink not of so strong a quality as that obtained 

 from Nova Scotia.) Tlie plaster is thrown by hand 

 on to the blade, about a handful to each hill. At 

 the proper season for hilling, a small plough is 

 passed between the rows rather deep, throwing up 

 a furrow on to the stock. This facilitates hilling 

 very much. Nothing more is done until harvest 

 time. They do not consider it good policy to 'top' 

 their corn, experiments with them showing it not 

 to be a good plan. 



It may be that in all this there is nothing new to 

 your readers ; yet as it seemed to me that the New 

 York f'armers do tiieir work so much more system- 

 atically and with so much less "fuss" and labor 

 than I had seen business of the same kind done in 

 Maine, I flattered myself that what I have written 

 might contain some hints whicli may profitably be 

 acted upon by some of our new beginners, wiioso 

 experience might not equal their ardor in the hon- 

 orable profession in which they have embarked. 

 I am, dear sir, very respectfully, 



Your friend, B. F. E. 



Ancient Farms. — The farm of the celebrated Ro- 

 man Cincinnatas consisted of only four acres, the 

 other three having been lost by becoming security 

 for a friend. Curius who was celebrated for iiis 

 frugality, who was three times chosen consul, and 

 thrice honored .with a triumph, on returning from 

 a successful campaign, refused from the people a 

 grant of fifty acres, declaring that he was a bad 

 citizen who could not be contented with the old al- 

 ^lowance of seven. 



