156 



F A R M E R S' REGISTER 



[No. 3 



which they come in contact, the means of suste- 

 nance anci cjrowlh for the vegetables to which 

 they are applied. The (ormer das? consif=ts of 

 animal or vegetable pubptances in a state of pu- 

 treRcence or decay, the latter, of mineral sub- 

 stances capable by their action of rendering these 

 vegetable and animal substances soluble and re- 

 ceivable. 



I shall go little into anv theory of vegetation or 

 of the operation of manures. Many theories have 

 been framed, but no one so demonstratively es- 

 tablished, that none other can he substituted in its 

 place, after fiirther inquiries shall have made us 

 better acquainted with these mysterious but pro- 

 foundly interesting operations of nature. Facts 

 established by repeated experiments, are mainly 

 to be relied upon. The application of green and 

 iinfermenfed manures has always been prejudicial 

 to wheat crops. We know that the food of plants 

 cannot be taken up unless it is reduced to ex- 

 treme fineness or rendered soluble. This is ap- 

 plicable to all plants. If green and unfermented 

 animal or putrescent manure be applied to wheat, 

 it is always advisable to plough it in deeply, so as 

 not to be reached by the roots of the plant until it 

 has undergone some degree of decomposition. If 

 however, the manure be completely fermented 

 and decomposed, it may then be safely applied, 

 by being spread on the ground and harrowed in. 

 It is desirable, however, in general, that the ma- 

 nure should be applied to the crop v;hich precedes 

 the wheat. 



Lime. — The presence of lime in some degree in 

 the soil, seems essential to the growth of wheat, 

 and in a degree to the perfection of any plant. A 

 very minute portion of lime is always finnd in the 

 wheat plant. Some portion of lime likewise is 

 found, it is believed, in all soils, excepting those 

 composed entirely of decayed veojctable matter 

 like peat, or of pure silex or sand.* In the most 

 productive soils lor wheat, lime is found in the 

 form of a carbonate ; and the permanent value of 

 a soil for grain crops may be in a degree deter- 

 mined by the presence of lime. In Europe, the 

 analysis of the best soils gives 25 to 30 per cent, 

 of carbonate of lime.t We shall soon be favored 

 with the analysis of the soils of our own state from 

 our learned geolo2rical surveyor. 



Lime is not however the food of plants. It is 

 not a mere stimulus tn the plant. The most rea- 

 sonable theory is, that it causes the dissolution of 

 other substances in the earth; and prepares them 

 to become the food of plants, or to yield that sub- 

 stance which constitutes their food. As lime it- 

 self does not constitute the food of plants, this ex- 

 plains why lime alone does not enrich a poor soil; 

 and why, where it has been applied in excess and 

 without the addition of other manures, it lor a 

 time impoverishes a soil. 



* Which need not be stated as exceptions, as neither 

 pure silex, or veo^etable matter alone, deserves to be 

 called "soil" — to constitute which more than one in- 

 gredient is always required. — Ed. Far. Reg. 



t And in all our Atlantic States, not one acre in 

 100,000 has even one per cent, of carbonate of lime. 

 Still Mr. C. is correct in saying that some small por- 

 tion of lime is in every soil (properly so called) — and 

 a larger proportion is as certainly a part of every /«•- 

 tile soil. — Ed. Far. Reg. 



A new theory of vegetation has been suggested 

 by some distinguished European philosophers, 

 which professes to approach nearer to a solution 

 of this great mystery than has yet been reached. 

 "A new substance has been discovered in all soils 

 and n)anures, which is denominated humin or 

 geine. It has been found likewise in all barks ; 

 in saw-dust, starch, and. sugar. Humin is a sub- 

 stance not unlike carbon, for which it has hitherto 

 been mistaken. It combines with the salts and 

 forms the humic acid. There is a strong analogy 

 between humin and other nutritive substances, 

 such as gum or fecula. It forms a humate with 

 an alkali, which is very soluble in water. All 

 substances which contain carbon, are dissolved in 

 the water of vegetation through the means of hu- 

 min ; and the dissolved mass is taken up by plants 

 as food. Humin in combination with lime, am- 

 monia, or potass, also becomes soluble in soils or 

 dung. Humic acid, and carbonic acid gas, mix- 

 ed with water, accoiding to this discovery, consti- 

 tute the chief food of plants. Every description of 

 manure is only valuable in proportion as it con- 

 tains these substances." 



Such is the modern theory of vegetation; which 

 is in itself plausible, but which will be farther test- 

 ed by the lights of chemical science; from which 

 examination the best results to agriculture are to 

 be expected. Lime causes the evolution or ex- 

 traction of this matter from various substances. 

 Potash leads to similar results, and with more 

 power than lime and bone manure ; and night soil 

 and all animal manures are supposed to furnish 

 humin or geine in abundance. In respect to night 

 soil or human excrement, a discovery has been 

 recently made in France, which promises valua- 

 ble results. The charcoal procured from burning 

 wood, peat, or coal in close vessels has been mix- 

 ed with it in the form of a fine powder, which ope- 

 rates to disinfect it of all offensive odor; and re- 

 duce it to a powder, which is portable and may 

 be easily distributed. I have seen this process 

 perfecty effected in the course of an hour. Ma- 

 nures in a decomposed and fermented state, are 

 said to supply this humic acid much more abun- 

 dantly than in a crude or fresh state. In what 

 precise condition they are best applied must be 

 matter of farther incjuiry and experiment ; and de- 

 pend somewhat on the mode of their application. 

 If designed to be spread broad-cast and ploughed 

 in, experience seems decidedly in favor of apply- 

 ing them in a green and unfermented state ; but it 

 is as Avell decided that green and unfermented ma- 

 nure should never be brought in immediate con- 

 tact with the roofs of a growing plant. 



The rules for the application of lime to the soil, 

 are of more immediate importance to the farmers 

 than any further discussion of the theory of their 

 operation. 



Limes are found of various qualities fi-om their 

 different measures of combination with .silicious, 

 arsillaceous, or magnesian earth. Magnesifi is 

 found combined with some of our limestones in 

 considerable quantities, and when in great amount 

 is deemed prejudicial to vegetation. The quality 

 of our various limestones is of great importance ; 

 and this will soon be furnished to us by the high- 

 est authority. Lime may be applied to soils for 

 two objects. The first to make a permanent 

 change in the nature of the soil, as for example, to 

 render a clayey soil less adhesive, and make it 



