306 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER, 



vegetable developement. It was known to per- 

 eons accustomed to rural pursuits that the heaps 

 ofvcgetable substances colleclcd for the purposes of 

 manure, during the process of decomposition, be- 

 came greatly reduced in bulk and weight. II' they 

 investigated the causes ofihis reduction they would 

 find that it was occasioned by the evaporation 

 of the carbonic acid and ammonia, ihe [)rincipal 

 sources of nutriment to plants. The discovery 

 of Mr, Daniell contained all the elements ol' 

 vegetable growth. It did not supply new ele- 

 ments, but the same derived from other sources.-. 

 it was known that by combustion substances 

 were rapidly decomposed, and its operaiion pro- 

 duced Ihe elements of vegetable growth. There 

 were on the earth numerous plants which were 

 apparently useless, but it was a principle in na- 

 ture that nothing should be lost, and they were 

 capable of a reduction into their elements, and 

 being made the means of vegetable growth in 

 other forms. The discovery of Mr. Daniell was 

 suggested by the fact that, while burning vege- 

 tables, he observed that the ashes became black- 

 ened by the surrounding smoke, and when used 

 in that state were very lerlilizing. This led him 

 to investigate the cause, and as the result of his 

 investigation he had produced the new manure, 

 the elements of which were carbon and ammonia. 

 With it the principal properties would not fly off 

 during decomposition, as that would take place 

 in the earth. Among other advantages, it v/as 

 light in weight, cheap, and capable of being pro- 

 duced in any quantity. 



"This manure has been applied by the dis- 

 coverer to his own crops, on three acres of poor 

 land, in an elevated situation, on some of which 

 he lias grown wheat four successive years with 

 improving results each year ; its good effects are 

 therefore founded upon experience, personal ob- 

 servation, and the testimony of other observers 

 competent to judge. From the nature of the ma- 

 nure, it is applicable, with some variations in its 

 composition, to every kind of crop. It is not a 

 stimulating manure, in the ordinary sense of the 

 word — that is, it will not have a tendency to call 

 into activity the existing resources in the soil — 

 but its direct efliect is to convey to the soil the di- 

 rect nutriment of future growth. This efiect is 

 produced by the supply of ammonia to the soil 

 in substances calculated to retain it for a lime — to 

 again absorb it from the atmosphere — as they 

 give it out to plants during their growth. It will 

 probably prevent also the ravages of insects. Iia 

 mode of application may be various, according 

 to the circumstances of the crops. The applica- 

 tion by drill is conducive to economy of the ma- 

 nure, and a direct application to the infant plant 

 as is the case with bone dust. Care, however, 

 must be taken that it is not ap[)lied too directly to 

 the plant, or without some portion of mould 

 around it. This is the only |)recaution needed 

 to avoid danger in its use. There is one required 

 to prevent waste, as it is of a volatile character ; 

 that is, to place it several inches in the earth, as 

 the earth will absorb and retain the volatile and 

 valuable part. For grass lands, for smiilar rea- 

 sons, it will be well to have it mixed with a con- 

 siderable portion of ordinary unvalued mould. If 

 the manure, as manufactured, be mixed with an 

 equal bulk of mould, it will be pcrlectly safe for 

 application ; or if the mould of the field be stirred 



over it when drilled it will suffice. The quantity 

 to be used will vary according to the crop, like 

 any other manure. About twenty-four bushels 

 per acre are recommended for wheat, and half as 

 much more, or thirly-six bushels, might be bene- 

 ficially applied (or turnifis or mangel wurtzei. 

 The most beneficial quantities will easily be as- 

 certained by the intelligent larraer." 



Mr. Hall produced a sample of the manure — a 

 coarse black powder, having a strong smell some- 

 what resen)bling coal-tar. Samples ofthe wheat 

 grown by Mr. Daniell were also exhibited, and 

 it was slated, in reply to questions, that the cropa 

 produced were greater in quantity, better in quali- 

 ty and weight, and produced with one-third the 

 ordinary quantity of seed. The manure will pro- 

 bably be about one^lhird the present price of bone 

 dust. 



NEW ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 



From the same. 



The knowledge of the ingredients of the cele- 

 brated artificial manure of Mr. Daniell, has at 

 length reached this side of the Atlantic. They 

 are as Ibllows : 



Any wood mechanically reduced to powder — in 

 plain words saw-dust — this is the basis, and it is 

 to be thoroughly saturated with bituminous mat- 

 ters of all or any kind — to this is to be added 

 small proportions of soda and quick lime, and a 

 very small quantity of sulphur. 



The principles on which this compound- is 

 formed appear at first rather obscure, but one 

 thing is apparent, it is an attempt to make an arti- 

 ficial bituminous coal and to keep this in a state 

 of slow combustion with only the substitution of 

 soda lor the potash of the wood and the addition 

 of quick lime. We are not told the proportions, 

 nor how long the compost is to remain before 

 used, nor what the bituminous matters are ; the 

 only additional inibrmation is that it should be 

 buried two or three inches under the surlace of 

 the soil. 



Before I proceed farther with an analysis by 

 reasoning of this new artificial manure, 1 must 

 lay before you well authenticated proofs of the 

 value in agriculture of the products ofthe com- 

 bustion of bituminous coal.* 



Bituminous coal contains from 13 to 16 per cent, 

 of nitrogen or azote, and 4 to 12 per cent, of hy- 

 drogen — when the coal is burnt, these two gases 

 unite and Ibrm ammonia — when burnt in the open 

 air the ammonia goes partly into the atmosphere 

 and is partly condensed in the soot. When it is 

 burnt in retorts for the purpose of affording gas 

 for illumination, the ammonia is dissolved in the 

 liquor used lor purifying the gas, and is called the 

 ammoniacal liquor of gas works. According to 

 Mr. Blake of the Boston gas works, 1 chaldron, 

 or 2700 pounds, gives 33 gallons of this liquor, 

 containing 5 per cent of ammonia, and 24 gallons 

 containing 4 per cent — but the strength of this 



* Turner's Ctiemistry gives the following proportions 

 of nitrogen in 100 parts of coal : 



Caking coal, splint coal, cherry coal, canel coal. 

 Nitrogen 15.96 6.25 10.22 13.72 



There is much reason to suppose that these amounts 

 are considerably overrated. 



