222 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



fitable, as one eource of accumulating ammonia, 

 would also act beneficially on the horses eo con- 

 fined, as there can be no doubt, that breathing 

 euch an atmosphere consiantly lor some hours to- 

 gether, induces a highly excited temperament, 

 which leads to, or at all events very much in- 

 creases, any local inflammatory action, and ren- 

 ders the cure ol' such a malady both difficult and 

 uncertain. 



These remarks, however, do not go to the 

 length of suggesting the use of gypsum as a cure 

 /or such a stable, it is only a means of absorbing 

 the obnoxious principle and turning it to account ; 

 but ventilation, to a considerable extent, is the 

 only cure and the best. 



Of. the relative value of human urine, when 

 compared with other animal matters, it is calcu- 

 lated by JMacaire, that 100 parts of human urine 

 are equal, in their fertilizing power, to 1300 parts 

 of the fresh dung of the horse, or 600 of those of 

 the cow. Nothing more therefore can be said in 

 lavor of this manure ; it must now be left to those 

 who have the means of applying and testing its 

 real value. 



In speaking of nitrogen we have fully explained 

 how ammonia acts as the pabulum of plants, but 

 we will here again shortly repeat it. 



Ammonia is composed of nitrogen and hydro- 

 gen. Now, when the ammonia, in a slate of so- 

 lution, is absorbed, by the spongelels of the roots, 

 decomposition takes place, the nitrogen is assimi- 

 lated to form the gluten of the seed, and the hy- 

 drogen either unites with carbon, to lorm the 

 essential or fixed oil of the plant, or is evaporated 

 through the leaves as useless matter. 



That such is the effect of ammonia or nitrogen, 

 applied under any circumstances, in which the 

 Bait is soluble, can be easily demonstrated, by ap- 

 plying it to any crop, when it will speedily assume 

 a dark green color and luxuriant appearance, 

 which is the peculiar effect ol' the nitrogen alone, 

 and which is forcibly illustrated in the dark green 

 circles, popularly called fairy rings, which exist 

 on the downs, and which owe their dark color en- 

 tirely to the mushroom or fungus spawn, existing 

 under the surface, and which spawn consists al- 

 most wholly of nitrogen, and communicates its 

 properly to the grass growing above. 



The specific action of nitrogen also, by endow- 

 ing the plant with greater energy, enables it to 

 assimilate more carbon Irom the atmosphere, and 

 thus the addition of this manure, which is in every 

 respect an essential to plants, gives it a greater 

 power of assimilating another substance of almost 

 equal importance as itself. 



In concluding our notice of this manure we can 

 only repeat that the liquid and solid excrement of 

 man used togeiher, and prepared in the way we 

 have described, forms from its combination of 

 ammonial salts, with the phosphates of magnesia 

 and soda, the most valuable compound that can 

 be devised, and its extensive use will confer a 

 double benefit to the larmer and to the public, as 

 well by the removal of matter, which is now only 

 considered as a nuisanse, as by increasing the 

 produce of the soil. 



PRUKING FRUIT TREES. 



From the Maine Cultivator. 



Those who have fruit trees that require trim- 

 ming, would do well to attend to it now. It has 

 been clearly ascertained, I think, that the practice 

 of pruning apple, pear, and other fruit trees at 

 this season of the year, is much more judicious 

 than that of pruning in the fall or winter. Per- 

 haps there may be some whose experience would 

 seem to point to the opposite course ; and it may 

 even be, that in certain instances, the results have 

 been far less favorable than was anticipated. 



But as a general thing, I think there can be no 

 doubt, that wounds, caused by the excision of 

 limbs, heal much more rapidly, and are lar less 

 detrimental to the health of the tree than those 

 inflicted at any other time. 



The rationale of this theory will be obvious to 

 every one who reflects upon the subject, and need 

 not here be explained at length. Those who 

 have fruit trees infected with the wart, or black 

 excrescences which have of late proved so fatal 

 to our best fruit trees, in many sections of New 

 England, especially the cherry and damson, 

 would do well to look to them. There is now no 

 ground to doubt the origin of this disease. It is 

 caused, indubitably, by the minute perforations 

 occasioned by vernal operations of a certain fly 

 which seeks the soft'and yielding bark as a nidus 

 for their future young. 



The larva of this insect being deposited in the 

 cuticle, lies there irritating the delicate vessels, 

 and thus occasions the exudation of the sap 

 which originates the disease. I remember having 

 seen an able article some years since in the Yan- 

 kee Farmer upon this subject, from the Hon. 

 Rufus M'lntire of Parsonsfield, in which it was 

 recommended, that all limbs infected with this 

 disease be immediately cut out. The writer re- 

 presented that he had thus entirely overcome 

 it, and that no doubt need be entertained as to its 

 efficiencj', or fears for the tree. 



There are few subjects connected with the 

 fai'ming art on which more has been said and 

 written, thnn upon this. And yet there are thou- 

 sands whose trees are now sufTerinsr, and who 

 are endeavoring to regain their regeneration by 

 the application of remedies ; the legitimate effects 

 of which are decidedly adverse to the securement 

 of their aim. W. 



Windham, /Ipril, 1842. 



The opinion of our correspondent, that this is 

 the season of the year for general pruning, al- 

 though of ancient date, is nevertheless a good 

 deal questioned hereabouts. 



Except in grafting or heading tJowh, which 

 ought to be done " about now," good orchardists 

 are getting in the way, and we think judiciously, 

 of pruning in the longest days in the year, say in 

 June, or July. 



Wounds in trees, caused either by the excision 

 of limbs, or in the bark, heal up more readily in 

 June or July, according to our observation, than 

 they do, if inflicted during the flow of the sap: 

 and the sooner this is eftected after (he excision, 

 the better it must be for the tree. He who has 

 a proper regard for the thrifty growth and life of 

 trees, will avoid doing any thing to prevent the 

 annual formation of the viscid substance which 

 covers the tree beneath the bark, as this layer 



