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THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



tides of which they arc composed. This nllowsthe 

 roots of plants to spread themselves fretdy- There 

 is much vegetable matter mixed up with them, 

 though these soils are not remarkable for its abun- 

 dance. Upon an examination of the alluvial soils 

 of the Mississippi, tiic Ganges, and the Nile, they 

 are found nearly to resemble each other, with the 

 vegetable matter contained in them in a finely di- 

 vided state. 



The mixed elements of soils liave a powerful ac- 

 tion upon each otlier, and upon the plants w^hich 

 grow in tliem. Their earthy parts have an electro- 

 motive power, which operates not only by the roots 

 but by the leaves, A fertile soil consists of ele- 

 ments in a positive and a nej^ative electric state, 

 fairly balancing each otiier. If the soil is acid, it 

 !b barren ; if alkaline, barren. The acid is in a 

 negative, the alkaline in a positive electric Btate. 

 Vegetable niannres become acid or negative ; ani- 

 mal manures positive or nikoline : they must be 

 combined in order to produce "the best results.— 

 When peats alone are used for manuring soils, tlic 

 results are not always favorable. Farmers pro- 

 nounce it a cold substance. In this natural state 

 it abounds in acid properties and produces sorrel. 

 We may render this substance one of the most valu- 

 able of manures by suitably pi'eparing it, according 

 to the experience of many farmers. Peat ehorild 

 be combined with some alkaline or basic substance, 

 which will neutralize the acid which prevails in it, 

 and then it will supply an abundant nutriment to 

 vegetables. Peat is composed of mosses which 

 grow and then continually decay, giving place con- 

 stantly to a succession of these spliagneous plants, 

 intermixed with leaves and decayed trees. Thev 

 abound on the sea-board. Swamp mud resembles 

 peat in proportion to the decayed vegetable matter 

 which it contains; and is adapted to supply tlie 

 manure we want. 



Peat beins; dug out, another growth of it come.^ 

 forward, and alter a while its place is supplied a- 

 gain. On Bh>ck Island, vi'hero it abounds, it is 

 tised altogether for fuel. In this place the peat 

 contains 98 per cent, of vegetable matter. Our 

 peats contain from SO to 97 parts of vegetable mat- 

 ter. Swamp mud consists of vegetable matter and 

 earth, making a good manure wJien its acid prop- 

 erties are neutralized. Several farmers in the neiTli- 

 borhood of Boston have experienced its value. — 

 Peat can be substituted by proper management for 

 manure. A distinguished farmer says th?t farmino- 

 cannot be carried on in his location without peat. 

 Two farmers within his knowledge have mixed 

 three parts of peat with one of stable duno-. By 

 mixing it with lime and animal manure, ammoni- 

 acal gas is produced, which dissolves the peat and 

 converts it into a powerful manure. 



Lime is higlily useful in its application to soils. 

 In bone manure it is found in combination with 

 phosphoric acid. The crenic and apocrenic acids 

 unite with it and form manures. All manures be- 

 fore they act, become converted into salts. Soils 

 are in an acid or natural state. Large tracts of 

 country, which are now barren, by proper applica- 

 tions, might be rendered fertile. A larm within 

 his knowledge, which was a blowing sand, a pine 

 barren, and almost hopeless, on which ten busliels 

 of corn to an acre could scarcely be grown, by the 

 judicious application of ashes, iias been made to 

 produce forty to fifty bushels to tiie acre. 



The Dr. here illustrated his position by givino- 

 the chemical analysis of certain soils in Rhode Isl- 

 fcnd, which it is understood will be presented to the 

 public in his report in a detailed form. Methods 

 should be taken to render the insoluble matter in 

 Boils soluble, that it may be taken up by tiie plants; 

 and it is desirable that this process should proceed 

 gradually. If acidities abound in the soil, correc- 

 tives must be applied. It is easy to convert one 

 quality of soil into another. The value of geoloir- 

 ical investigations is not properly estimated. An 

 analysis of soils is greatly wanted. The statistics 

 of agriculture are greatly wanted. Farmers are 

 not exact in their observation of their crops. Ma- 

 ny valuable agricultural districts are bottomed up- 

 on clay. TJiis is desirable in order to preserve the 

 manures whicii.nre applied to them. In soils where 

 the manures applied pass through them by infiltra- 

 tion, much loss is sustained; and they are not fa- 

 vorable to agricultural products. This infiltration 

 of manures is doubted by some, but the condition 

 of our wells proves it. Tlie water in a barn yard 

 is never pure. As much as a tea spoonful of veg- 

 etable to a gallon is often obtained from waters 

 which are considered pure. Tliis may be seen by 

 any one who will evaporate the Boston waters to 

 dryness. In the purest water obtained from lakes, 

 1 1-2 grain of vegetable matter to the gallon may 

 be obtained. In tiie water of Boston, 3ti grains 

 are found to the gallon. Soils brouglit from 150 



feet depth in this neighborhood, are found charged 

 with vegetable matter. 



Land with a foot of top soil on a gravel!}' sub- 

 stratum may be unproductive. This is the case 

 with the soil on Scekonk plains, which has a foot 

 of soil containing II per cent, of vegetable matter; 

 but manures applied pass through it by filtration ; 

 and it suifers from drought. 



All our waters come from the top soil. Clay is 

 a retainer of water. Bog iron ore is found in soils 

 and is prejudicial to vegetation. There is a ready 

 way for a farmer to test his water. By the appl-- 

 cation of a solution of lunar caustic to a glass of 

 water, if it contains vegetable matter, it w^ill be- 

 come red. Distilled water will not exhibit thisap- 

 pe^ra^'cc. 



Saline maUeri-" abound in soils in the form of car- 

 bonates, sulphate.'tand plinspiintes. Lime is an im- 

 portant amendment to the soil by causing it to fur- 

 nish nutriiaent to the plants. It is a chemical rea- 

 gent and decomposes manures, and does not, as has 

 been supposed, form insoluble matters. In the ash- 

 es of wheat, lime exists to the amount of 15 per 

 cent. It is found in some proportion in all soils. 

 The carbonate of lime is a valuable amendment to 

 soils, and especially to those which contain iron or 

 copperas. Gypsum is a powerful stimulus to veg- 

 etation. Lime in the form of a covbonate is easily 

 applied. The management of lime is too generally 

 raisunderstood. Fields perfectly barren have been 

 rendered fertile by the use of it. There are few 

 exceptions to this fact in Rhode Island In some 

 cases its npplicatinn has been triumphantly success- 

 ful, and in many cases of failure, the lime has been 

 found to be highly magnesian. There are various 

 matters connectcl with these suhjecls which will 

 furnish excellent texts for discussion hereafter. — 

 The action of manures is particularly important. 

 Science here is of great importance. Certain acids 

 in soils have been discovered by Berzelius. The 

 crenic and apocrenic acids. These are found in 

 the soils of both hemispheres ; in the soils of the 

 Mississippi and the Nile. These soils closely re- 

 semble each other. The soil of the Nile contains 

 2.S per cent, of the carbonate and piiosphate «^n'.rrie. 

 The soil of the Ml;£:rc:ppi has less iron and more 

 clay. 



The introduction of science into ngriculture has 

 been of great benefit. How soils arc to be render- 

 ed fertile or how corrected, have hitherto been mat- 

 ters of empiricism. We should desire to act nn- 

 derstandingly, not ignorantly. 



The nlianges which take place in the progress 

 of the growth of plants, arc remarkable. In the 

 germination of the seed, carbonic acid is given out, 

 and oxygen absorbed. After the leaves are form- 

 ed, they absorb carbonic acid and give out oxygen. 

 When the pUnt ripens, they give out carbonic acid 

 and absorb oxygen. All manures act on the foli- 

 age. If plants are overstrained, they fail to pro- 

 duce fruit. It is important to find the proper point 

 or limit of manuring. A distinguisjied gardener 

 engaged to produce a geranium leaf as large as a 

 cabbage : it was effected, but the plant perished in 

 the effort. 



Bleaching powders or chloride of lime, arc a 

 powerful manure, and produce astonishing elfects 

 on vegetation. The auimoniacalgas or Sal Volatile, 

 operates powerfully upon plants, and this matt^'r 

 is produced by the fermentation of barn manures. 



In soils which are porous it is advisable to use 

 manures in a long state. The manures which arc 

 obtainable are different in different places. Exper- 

 iments have hern made with bone manure, lime, 

 and ashes, and, as reported, with differeut results. 

 There are, undoubtedly, differences in soils, w'hich 

 affect their operation. These subjects deserve in- 

 quiry and observation. Agricultural observations 

 should be made exact and certain. As the pursuit 

 becomes intelligent it rises in dignity. Why 

 should farmers be ignorant of their great art, when 

 it is the aim and boast of every other profession 

 and pursuit, to study their art thoroughly .•' Agri- 

 culture may be rendered scientific; and science 

 \yell applied must conduce to render it more profi- 

 table. 



Facts in these matters are of the highest impor- 

 tance. In Maine ashes were thrown away. The 

 Long Island farmers are willing to send to Massa- 

 chusetts to obtain them. The intrinsic value or 

 efficiency of the material cannot be affected by the 

 different estimation in which they are held. Peat 

 we see in some places is highly esteemed as a ma- 

 nure. In many places it is utterly neglected ; and 

 this can arise only from ignorance i-f its value or of 

 the proper mode of applying it. 



Facts, he repeated, are of the highest importance. 

 Peat in a crude state, is not suited for application 

 to the land. It must be decomposed, and its acidi- 

 ties corrected. A farmer in Rhode Island has ' 



made niucli use of swamp mud compoundud with 

 fish, the Menhaden, which are taken in their bays 

 in great abundance. The eight cart loads of swamp 

 mud or peat, he applied one barrel of fish. This 

 compost is denominated fish-pie. The rotting of 

 the fish decomposed the peat, and the peat absorbed 

 the amiuoniacal gases, which escaped from the de- 

 caying fish. To farmer deemed this mixture of 

 equal value with tlic best of unmixed barn manure. 

 On a level field, planted with corn at right angles, 

 every row manured with this compost was distinct- 

 ly observable and was twice as large as that 

 part dressed with hog manure. At the harvest the 

 crop from the rows manured with this compost 

 gavo an increase over the other parts of the field of 

 fifty per cent. Any decaying animal substance, on 

 being mixed with it, will produce a decomposition 

 of peat. 



The physiology of vegetation is a subject de- 

 serving of much attention. The mode in v:hich 

 plants receive their nutriment from the soil is not, 

 as has been supposed, by capillary attraction, but 

 the vegetable food in a liquid form is forced into 

 the minute vessels of the plants by an electric or 

 volatic agency. This is the discovery of a French- 

 man by the name of Detrochet, and is called by 

 him nidosmose. [t)r. Jackson here illustrated this 

 matter bj' a small apparatus.] This operation is at 

 once suspended by the presence of certain substan- 

 ces, such as sulphuretted hydrogen or one drop of 

 fcecal matter in the vessel. Acids and alkalies in 

 their combination, act as galvanic batteries, and for- 

 ward the process of vegetation. 



The physiology of plants should be studied by 

 the farmer. Innumerable, curious and wonderful 

 operations are continually going on before liim. 

 No situation is more favorable than his to intellect 

 tual and moral improvement ; and no employment 

 more interesting than the contemplation of tjie phe- 

 nomena of the natural world. 



The green sand spoken of is as ditficult of solu- 

 tion as the feldspar in granite. In Swp'lfVi liio 

 carbonate of potash is us^d to decompose the ni- 

 trate of htr.e, which is formed in their artificial 

 nitre beds, which are similar to compost heaps. 

 Nitre is produced abundantly in our dun;^ heaps. 

 Many other salts are produced by chemical chan- 

 ges, wliich are continually going en in the earth 

 and air. The putrefaction of animal and vegetable 

 substances is productive of various changes, and of 

 substances useful in vegetation. TliC crenic and 

 apocrenic acids are always found in soils, and the 

 degree of their presence, when ascertained, will in- 

 dicate the applications to be made to the land. 



The skeletons of all plants and animals have 

 lime for their bases. Sllex gets into plants in a 

 manner altogether mysterious. It is found in all 

 plants with hollow stems, such as many of the 

 grasses, in wheat and the cereal grains, in bamboo 

 and flag. The crenic and apocrenic acids oper- 

 ate to dissolve sllex. The absorption of plants is 

 not wholly by their roots, but by theirleaves, which 

 are the lungs of plants and gather the carbonic 

 acid gas from the air, and its carbon is converted 

 into solid wood. Nature pursues her operations in 

 one eternal round, and all things combine i;iutuol- 

 ly to assist and modify each other. Plants are 

 liighly beneficial to liR- and health, In absorbing 

 and decomposing the elements of the air, and re- 

 turning that portion which is necessary to res- 

 piration and lifo. 



Agriculture is yet to make great advances in 

 this country. The value of peat lands is very im- 

 perfectly understood. A farmer in the vicinity of 

 Boston, distinguished for his scientific and practi- 

 cal skill, has ol)tained one hundred bushels of corn 

 to the acre upon redeemed peat meadows; and ob- 

 tains from these lands an income of ten to tvrelve 

 per cent, profit. Land might be cultivated witli 

 much more skill and to much higher profit in pro- 

 portion lo the skill applied. Liquid manures omong 

 us are almost entirely wasted. Night soil is often 

 thrown away, and yet it is one of the most efficient 

 of manures. With all our advantages, we bring 

 Indian corn from Africa, and the country of the 

 Nile furnishes us with peas and beans. 



The population of China is immense and support- 

 ed wholly from the soil. The allowance for a Chi- 

 na man is indeed small, as three dollars per year 

 will serve to keep soul and body togetlier; but even 

 to earn this, every person does and must work. — 

 Among this people agriculture is carried to an ex- 

 traordinary degree of perfection. With us too large 

 a portion of our people are devoted to trade ; and 

 the pursuits of rural industry are deserted for the 

 hazards of speculation and commercial life. As we 

 cross our breeds of cattle that we may improve our 

 stock, it would be fortunate if we could so cross 

 our farmers and mex-chants that the habits of exact- 

 ness in keeping accounts and the enterprise and 

 spirit of progress which distinguish the mercantile 



