Domestic Notices. 465 



soil, acts as a constant reservoir for these valuable gaseous substances, a 

 property which neither time nor any circumstances can alter. Even when, 

 in the course of cultivation, the charcoal originally applied on the surface 

 of the land, is ploughed under the surface, even there it does not lose its 

 power of absorbing the gases, but carries on its operations with undimin- 

 ished energy." Professor Johnston, in his valuable work on the " Ele- 

 ments of Agricultural Chemistry," strongly recommends the mixing of 

 charcoal, particularly animal charcoal, with liquid manure and other rich 

 applications to the soil, but apprehends that the cost and scarcity of this 

 substance may preclude its being brought into general use. On all occa- 

 sions, however, where it has been tried, I believe that, without any excep- 

 tion, the results have been found so satisfactory, both as regards quantity 

 and quality, in the produce of the crop, that they have fully compensated 

 for the additional outlay. I understand that several manufactories have 

 been established throughout the kingdom, for supplying this manure in a 

 prepared and profitable state ; but so many frauds have been detected in 

 the composition, that purchasers ought scrupulously to be on their guard, 

 and, if possible, have the commodity analyzed previous to their applying it 

 to the land. This remark is also applicable to every other manure ; and as 

 an analysis, sufficient for the purpose, can now be obtained for a mere 

 trifle, from parties appointed expressly by the leading agricultural societies 

 throughout the country, there can be no excuse for its omission. A very 

 excellent carbonised manure (from my having seen an advertisement of it 

 repeatedly in your journal,) has recently been tried by me in various exper- 

 iments, on a small scale, in an agricultural as well as floricultural way, and 

 in most instances, with good success. What are the exact proportions of 

 its component parts, I cannot say ; but, from a rough analys's that I have 

 had taken, it appears to be very rich in phosphates, as well as to contain a 

 considerable share of the sulphates of ammonia, soda, magnesia, and pot- 

 ash, in conjunction with other highly fertilising ingredients. I am told that, 

 in what is prepared for flowers, the foecal matter employed is sheep's dung ; 

 be it, however, what it may, I found an astonishing effect produced from an 

 application of it to my roses, which not only grew and blossomed more lux- 

 uriantly, but were wholly exempt from aphis or other insects. — {Gard. 

 Chron., 1849, p. 485.) 



Art. II. Domestic Notices. 



New York State Fair, at Syracuse. — The State Fair was held at Syra- 

 cuse, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 11th, 12ih, and 13lh of 

 September. An immense assemblage of people, from all parts of the state 

 and country, filled the city, it having been estimated that at least 100,000 

 persons were present during the three days. The show was highly credit- 

 able to the society. 



VOL. XV. — NO. X. 59 



