ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 215 



Now this calculation, deduced from actual experiment, con- 

 firms the theoretical proportions (268), supposing only ^ of 

 the nitrogen to act, though that was made before the author 

 met with the statement of the great practical farmer. 



271. There is a coincidence here of proportions, which 

 makes it quite certain that the quantity recommended (269) 

 is a perfectly safe basis for agricultural use. By theory the 

 proportions are, 1 cord peat, 61 lbs. soda ash, 92 lbs. pot- 

 ash. As deduced from the compost of dung and peat, 61 

 lbs. soda ash, 92 lbs. potash. This proportion gives each 

 cord of peat a value equal to that of cow-dung. If ^ only 

 of the nitrogen of dung acts, the alkali and peat may be 

 composted, as that is, with loam, or still better, mixed up at 

 once with its proportion of peat. If this is done, then the 

 result will be, in round numbers, 1 cord of fresh dug peat, 

 20 lbs. of soda ash, 30 lbs. potash, 5 to 7 bushels house 

 ashes. In March, 1849, the author, in a letter addressed to 

 the commissioner for the agricultural survey of Massachu- 

 setts, threw out the following hint, which was published in 

 the second report of Mr. Colrnan : 



" Take 100 lbs. of peat as sold, or the fine part from the 

 bottom of a peat stack ; at any rate, bruise the peat fine, put 

 it into a potash kettle, and 2^ lbs. of white ash, and 130 gal- 

 lons of water ; boil for a few hours ; let it settle, dip off the 

 clear for use, add 100 lbs. more of peat, 2J lbs. white ash, 

 fill up with water, as much as you have dipped off, boil 

 again, settle and dip off*. This may be repeated five times. 

 How much oftener I know not ; probably as long as the 

 vegetable part of peat remains. The clear liquor is an alka- 

 line solution of geine. The three first boilings contain 

 geine, alumine, iron, magnesia, and sulphate or phosphate of 

 alkali. The dark colored solution contains about half an 

 ounce per gallon of vegetable matter. 



