DANIEL LEE'S ADDRESS. 395 



another barrel of flour. In 196 pounds of this article there are 

 187 of the elements of water and charcoal. The other nine 

 are nitrogen and incombustible earthy salts, of which phospho- 

 ric acid, potash and lime form from 75 to 80 per cent. There 

 are but few soils that yield to rain water more than one part of 

 potash in 2,000, while some are so completely exhausted of 

 this element that 10,000 grains of earth yield not over one- 

 tenth of a grain, or one part in 100,000. The same remarks 

 may be applied to gypsum, soluble silica, salts of soda and 

 magnesia. 



There is no way in which the farmer can accumulate these 

 soluble constituents of plants in his soil better than to keep it 

 rich in organic matter, or manure of some kind in which they 

 abound. Thus, the silica (flint) in the stems of grasses, wheat, 

 corn, broom corn, &c. is rendered available to a new crop as 

 these stems rot in the ground ; but if your broom corn or 

 other stalks be burnt, much of the silica in the ashes is ren- 

 dered insoluble, and for a long time quite unavailable as food 

 for other cereal grasses. The alkalies, soda and potash, are 

 exceedingly valuable on sandy soils by increasing the solution 

 of small particles of silica, forming with them soluble silicates. 

 All decaying vegetables favor the formation of soluble com- 

 pounds of flint. It must be borne in mind that this mineral 

 forms over 60 per cent, of the ash of wheat and rye straw ; 

 and that a lack of silica in the stems of wheat promotes the 

 growth of fungi, such as rust and mildew. Next to wood 

 ashes, stable manure and bone dust, lime, common salt, and 

 gypsum are the most valuable fertilizers. Three bushels of 

 slaked lime, one of salt, and half a bushel of gypsum, applied 

 as a top dressing to a meadow or pasture in the spring, will be 

 found of great service. I regard the increase of grass as one of 

 the best paying improvements that a farmer can make. Some- 

 times more seed should be sown and the surface harrowed with 

 a light sharp implement. I would advise every one to raise 

 his own grass seed who can, and thereby escape the danger of 

 purchasing seed foul with pestilent daisies. Canada thistles, and 

 other weeds. More pains should be taken to keep all manure 

 under shelter, and exempt from leaching rains and the volatiz- 



