POTASH AND SODA. 15 



require perfectly raw manure to create fermentation in the soil. 

 Stiff clay is amended best in that way. 



Professor Ville finds by experiment another proposition to be 

 true, which surprised me ; I am not farmer enough to be able 

 to say too, it will surprise other farmers. Ever since the alkalies, 

 potash and soda, were found to replace each other in the arts, 

 they have been supposed to have the same effect in agriculture. 

 Prof. Ville finds not only that that is not true, but he insists 

 that potash, if it is used, must be in the form of carbonate of 

 potash ; that in any other form it does not have the proper 

 effect upon vegetation, until, in the course of decomposition 

 and changes in the earth, it ultimately becomes carbonate of 

 potash. 



I invite your attention further upon this matter only to the 

 harvest of 1864, upon the experimental farm of Vincennes. 



" On the 31st of July, M. George Ville reaped and thrashed 

 his crops in presence of a large concourse of agriculturists. 

 The results were as follows : — 



Wheat. — TJiird crop from the same land, without fresh manure since 

 the first application. 



Crop per acre. Without manure. With complete manure. 



Straw, . . . .704 lbs. 5,913 lbs. 



Grain, . . . . 193 " 2,464 " 



Total, . .^ . 897 lbs. 8,377 lbs. 



"Wheat. — Fourth crop, without fresh manure since the first. 



Crop per acre. Without manure. With complete m,anure. 



Straw, .... 1,074 lbs. 4,629 lbs. 



Grain, . . . . 316 " 1,760 " 



Total, . . . 1,390 lbs. 6,389 lbs. 



Colza. — Coming after tivo crops of Barley, without fresh manure. 



Crop per acre. Without manure. With complete manure. 



Straw and silicates, . 5,632 lbs. 7,700 lbs. 



Grain, .... 1,320 " 2,410 " 



■ Total, . . . 6,952 lbs. 10,110 lbs. 



