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grass of about 10 acres, I dressed a few acres at a time with this 

 material ; the other part of the field I dressed with barn manure, 

 at a rate equal to 15 ox-loads per acre. Before mowing, the 

 eye could readily discover the difference in the growth ; and 

 when mowed, the part manured with the mineral yielded full 

 one quarter more crop. For five years, the field has averaged 

 two tons per acre, and is by no means a rich soil. I am no chemist, 

 and cannot describe by what property it acts on the land. I 

 found in grass ground where the various kinds of foul grass or 

 weeds grew — such as some call lamb's tongue, sorrel, &c., all 

 these disappeared, and the clover and herdsgrass took their 

 place. I am this fall dressing the last acre with this material, 

 and do not intend to use any other manure ; my practice has 

 been to spread about 20 loads to the acre. In ploughed land I 

 have found the same beneficial result when compared with 

 that part manured with barn manure. 



How long its good effects will last, I cannot say; certainly 

 for three years its influence is felt. Wet ground will bear more 

 of it than dry ; too much on dry ground burns the land. 



It has been used in this vicinity, at times, for twenty years ; 

 but the want of knowledge in tempering it, made its usefulness 

 very limited. One farmer for many years secured all a glass 

 manufactory made ; and he told me 10 years since, he used it 

 secretly and with great success; so much so as to occasion 

 much surprise among his neighbors, that his farm yielded so 

 luxuriantly, when he did not appear to make more barn manure 

 than they did. 



1 once ploughed under a strong dressing, but did not discover 

 any good effect from it ; my impression at the time was, I lost 

 my labor and material. 



Its alkaline property cannot be very strong, as all that can be 

 obtained from it by the several processes which it passes through 

 in the hands of the glass manufacturer, is small, yet strong 

 enough to neutralize the acid in the soil. When mixed as here- 

 tofore named, and thrown in a pile, no weeds will grow in it 

 for two or more years, but it will remain dry and barren." 



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